The burden of multiple sclerosis: A community health survey

Background: Health-related quality of life ( HRQL) in persons with multiple sclerosis ( MS) who reside within the community relative to the general population is largely unknown. Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.1 ( CCHS 1.1) were used to compare HRQL of persons with MS and the general population. Methods: A representative sample of adults ( 18 years or older) from the cross sectional population health survey, CCHS 1.1, was examined to compare scores on the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 ( HUI3), a generic preference-based HRQL measure, of respondents with ( n = 302) and without ( n = 109,741) MS. Selected sociodemographic covariates were adjusted for in ANCOVA models. Normalized sampling weights and bootstrap variance estimates were used in the analysis. Results: The mean difference in overall HUI3 scores between respondents with and without MS was 0.25 ( 95% CI: 0.20, 0.31); eight times greater than the clinically important difference. The largest differences in scores were seen with the ambulation ( 0.26; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.32) and pain attributes ( 0.14; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.19). Clinically important differences with dexterity and cognition were also observed. Conclusion: While the proportion of the Canadian population with MS is relatively small in comparison to other diseases, the magnitude of the burden is severe relative to the general population.