Workplace and social support, treatment satisfaction, and their impact on quality of life in Swedish women with multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional survey study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL), in relation to support from work, social, as well as treatment satisfaction, in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). Further, to predict the satisfaction on these support dimensions based on sociodemographic and clinical variables.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey: a web-based questionnaire conducted in 2021 of people with MS (PwMS) linked to Nationwide Swedish registers.

SETTING

Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Working women with MS, living in Sweden, aged 20-50 responding to the survey during the spring of 2021 (n=2967).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Health-related quality of life was measured using the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Linear regression models were applied to estimate the association between demographic and clinical factors, as well as reported survey answers with HRQoL. Odds of perceived satisfactory support in one, two or all three support dimensions (work, social or treatment) were performed with multinomial logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Lower MS severity and fatigue, higher cognitive processing speed, living in cities and higher educational attainment were individually associated with higher levels of HRQoL (p<0.001). Contrary, lower HRQoL was associated with progressive type of MS, self-reported visible or invisible symptoms, and no or unsatisfactory support from work, social and treatment (p<0.001). When explored altogether, higher levels in HRQoL were predominantly explained by lower MS severity (t=-9.318, p<0.001), less fatigue (t=-22.190, p<0.001) and more support from work (t=4.824, p<0.001) and to some extent, social support (t=-2.448, p=0.014). Further, compared with women who reported no support, those experiencing lower fatigue and receiving ongoing treatment were more likely to receive support in one or more of all three dimensions (work, social and satisfaction with their treatment). In contrast, higher HRQoL (OR=1.033; CI=1.015 to 1.052) was only significant when receiving simultaneous support from all three support dimensions.

CONCLUSION

Clinical factors and support from work and social support are the strongest contributors to HRQoL in working women with MS. Further, support across several life dimensions is essential when assessing HRQoL. Particularly, satisfaction with the perceived support from work, which plays a crucial role in the HRQoL of women with MS. This underscores the importance of prioritising clinical management and strong support systems to significantly improve HRQoL outcomes in patients with MS.