Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complicated chronic and inflammatory disorder of the Central Nervous System (CNS) with the main characteristic of demyelination and loss of neuronal axons which, consequently contributes to malfunction and disabilities (1–3). Epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of MS is about 150/100000 people (4, 5). Worldwide about 1.3 million are suffering from MS (6). MS generally affects young adults causing long-lasting disabilities during the productive age of the patients imposing many clinical and socioeconomic burdens (2, 7).
The cause of MS is still unclear and the prognosis of its improvement is very difficult. Although MS does not affect life expectancy, 50% of the cases, after 10 years of the diagnosis, face main problems of movement and need others' support (8). Most of the patients with major disabilities need informal and specialized care services by their families (9). MS leaves significant negative effects on the Quality of Life (QOL) among patients. For instance, in Switzerland it causes a loss of 0.3 in the Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) index of different ages and genders (10). By the QOL, we mean "patients' perception of their life conditions demonstrated according to their expectations, goals, norms and concerns" (10).
With high prevalence (9), early occurrence in productive ages (11), long term survival after the diagnosis (12) and with the destructive effects on patients and families (13) MS is one of the main challenges of public health in different societies. It is the second cause of neurodegenerative disorders in working-age among adults making 50–80% of patients to be unemployed 10 years after the disease occurrence (14). Usually, MS is initiated with symptoms like sensory disturbances, inflammation of unilateral optic neuritis, diplopia, lhermitte, limb weakness, poor coordination and gait ataxia (15).
MS causes progressive disorder where symptoms appear gradually. About half of the patients are unable to do their home and work tasks after ten years of disease occurrence. After 15 years, half of them can not walk without help. After 25 years and half of them need to use a wheelchair (16). MS also causes a wide range of other disorders like depression, disappointment, cognitive disorders, lack of independence, pain, fatigue, anxiety, dysthymia, social problems, lack of confidence, and neuronal symptoms (17). This emphasises on proper evaluation and management of the effects on different physical, psychological, behavioural, and social features of the MS patients (18, 19). There are studies available from the OECD countries (1–11). However, there is a dearth of literatures from the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Iran (20). Therefore, the current study was conducted to assess the quality of life of the MS patients in East Azerbaijan province; Iran. Also, the association between QOL and demographic and background variables of the MS patients was explored.