Community-based study of health-related quality of life in spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy.

Abstract

To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI), muscular dystrophy (MD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and cerebral palsy (CP). This is a multicenter, community-based, cross-sectional study of adults diagnosed with CP (94), MD (99), MS (98), SCI (99), and healthy adults (105). The WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS questionnaire were used. Significant differences in physical functioning between adults with CP and SCI and adults with MS (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively), as well as between adults with SCI and MD (p = 0.001) were found. Univariate tests revealed significant psychological functioning differences between adults with SCI and MD (p = 0.02) and SCI and MS (p = 0.001). There was a significant difference in physical functioning between controls and adults with SCI (p = 0.049) and a significant difference in psychological functioning between controls and adults with MS (p = 0.039). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in social and environmental domains. Physical and physiological functioning were affected to various degrees in the studied neurodisabilities, while all groups reported similar levels of functioning and well-being in social and environmental domains.