The pure effects of occurrence relapse on fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis: A post hoc analysis with high statistical control

  Relapses are the most obvious clinical feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) that can have different effects on patients fatigue and quality of life. Therefore, the aim of present study was to evaluate pure effects of occurrence relapse on fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS. In a cross-sectional study, 162 patients with MS (in three groups: non-relapse, 1-2 times of relapses, and ≥ 3 times of relapses) were selected by consecutive sampling and using the clinical and demographic variables inventory, the Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) along with identical analog-spring balance were examined. The data were analyzed byChi-square test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), and post hoc tests of Fisher least significant difference (LSD) and Scheffe. The adjusted analyses showed that effects of occurrence relapse was significant in physical functioning, vitality, social functioning, mental health, and physical and mental components (P < 0.05). The following of difference between means in relapse groups showed that patients with ≥3 times of relapses in all identified significant variables have lower mean scores (P < 0.05). In the meantime, significant differences were not observed between different groups of relapse in terms of fatigue level (P > 0.05). MS relapses leading to reduced quality of life in patients and its effects in patients with high relapse rate is highlight.