Understanding the Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Quality of Life: An Italian Pilot Study
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Study Procedure
2.3. Data Collection Tool
2.4. Ethical Considerations
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Sample
3.2. Perceived Quality of Life
3.3. Forms of Support Received
3.4. Impact of Disease Stage on Different Dimensions of Life
4. Discussion
5. Study Limitations
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristics | n (%) |
---|---|
Gender | |
Female | 79 (79.8) |
Male | 20 (20.2) |
Civil status | |
Single | 34 (34.3) |
Divorced/separated/ | 11 (11.1) |
married | (52.5) |
Widowed | 2 (2.0) |
Educational level | |
High school diploma | 51 (51.5) |
Postgraduate training | 2 (2.0) |
Degree | 33 (33.3) |
Junior high school degree | 13 (13.1) |
Work activity | |
Worker | 86 (86.9) |
Unemployed | 13 (13.1) |
Disease phase | |
Early phase | 66 (66.7) |
Advanced phase | 33 (33.3) |
Multiple Sclerosis typology | |
Primarily progressive multiple sclerosis (MS-PP) | 8 (8.1) |
Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS-RR) | 78 (78.8) |
Secondarily progressive multiple sclerosis (MS-SP) | 7 (7.1) |
Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) | 6 (6.1) |
Other family members suffering from MS | |
Yes | 24 (24.2) |
No | 75 (75.8) |
Categories Influenced by MS | MS Phase | p-Value | |
---|---|---|---|
Advanced | Early | ||
Relationships with friends and family | 0.644 | ||
Very | 6 (6.1) | 10 (10.1) | |
Enough | 14 (14.1) | 21 (21.2) | |
Little | 7 (7.1) | 19 (19.2) | |
None | 6 (6.1) | 16 (16.2) | |
Relationships with work related colleagues | 0.020 * | ||
Very | 8 (8.1) | 11 (11.1) | |
Enough | 2 (2.0) | 23 (23.2) | |
Little | 14 (14.1) | 21 (21.2) | |
None | 9 (9.1) | 11 (11.1) | |
Relationship with partner | 0.753 | ||
Very | 8 (8.1) | 18 (18.2) | |
Enough | 11 (11.1) | 19 (19.2) | |
Little | 5 (5.1) | 15 (15.2) | |
None | 9 (9.1) | 14 (14.1) | |
Time devoted to myself | 0.0503 | ||
Very | 10 (10.1) | 20 (20.2) | |
Enough | 16 (16.2) | 26 (26.3) | |
Little | 5 (5.1) | 9 (9.1) | |
None | 2 (2.0) | 11 (11.1) | |
Time devoted to other family members | 0.443 | ||
Very | 10 (10.1) | 16 (16.2) | |
Enough | 11 (11.1) | 17 (17.2) | |
Little | 8 (8.1) | 16 (16.2) | |
None | 4 (4.0) | 17 (17.2) | |
My commitment in the professional sphere | 0.019 * | ||
Very | 16 (16.2) | 19 (19.2) | |
Enough | 6 (6.1) | 14 (14.1) | |
Little | 3 (3.0) | 24 (24.2) | |
None | 8 (8.1) | 9 (9.1) | |
Daily difficulties encountered | |||
Living with the outcomes of the disease | 0.741 | ||
Very | 6 (6.1) | 11 (11.1) | |
Enough | 6 (6.1) | 10 (10.1) | |
Little | 4 (4.0) | 14 (14.1) | |
None | 17 (17.2) | 31 (31.3) | |
Living with a sense of inadequacy | 0.388 | ||
Very | 11 (11.1) | 13 (13.1) | |
Enough | 13 (13.1) | 27 (27.3) | |
Little | 7 (7.1) | 17 (17.2) | |
None | 2 (2.0) | 9 (9.1) | |
Living with the lack of/absence of assistance | 0.480 | ||
Very | 10 (10.1) | 13 (13.1) | |
Enough | 12 (12.1) | 27 (27.3) | |
Little | 8 (8.1) | 14 (14.1) | |
None | 3 (3.0) | 12 (12.1) | |
Living with uncertainty for the future | 0.046 * | ||
Very | 9 (9.1) | 5 (5.1) | |
Enough | 7 (7.1) | 12 (12.1) | |
Little | 10 (10.1) | 26 (26.3) | |
None | 7 (7.1) | 23 (23.2) | |
Living with the lack of support from institutions, families, and health care providers | 0.108 | ||
Very | 20 (20.2) | 41 (41.4) | |
Enough | 3 (3.0) | 14 (14.1) | |
Little | 9 (9.1) | 7 (7.1) | |
None | 1 (1.0) | 4 (4.0) | |
Living with an often-inappropriate lifestyle | 0.161 | ||
Very | 7 (7.1) | 13 (13.1) | |
Enough | 14 (14.1) | 18 (18.2) | |
Little | 10 (10.1) | 20 (20.2) | |
None | 2 (2.0) | 15 (15.2) | |
Living with the sexual dysfunction that the disease has caused | 0.030 * | ||
Very | 13 (13.1) | 14 (14.1) | |
Enough | 12(2.1) | 16 (16.2) | |
Little | 5 (5.1) | 16 (16.2) | |
None | 3 (3.0) | 20 (20.2) | |
Indicate which of these aspects alter the sexual sphere | |||
Loss of desire | 0.003 * | ||
Very | 7 (7.1) | 2 (2.0) | |
Enough | 8 (8.1) | 7 (7.1) | |
Little | 8 (8.1) | 20 (20.2) | |
None | 10 (10.1) | 37 (37.4) | |
Alterations in sensitivity | 0.688 | ||
Very | 6 (6.1) | 7 (7.1) | |
Enough | 4 (4.0) | 12 (12.1) | |
Little | 11 (11.1) | 23 (23.2) | |
None | 12 (12.1) | 24 (24.2) | |
Lower confidence at the sexual level | 0.303 | ||
Very | 7 (7.1) | 9 (9.1) | |
Enough | 6 (6.1) | 9 (9.1) | |
Little | 11 (11.1) | 17 (17.2) | |
None | 9 (9.1) | 31 (31.3) | |
Feeling less attractive | 0.902 | ||
Very | 5 (5.1) | 7 (7.1) | |
Enough | 11 (11.1) | 21 (21.2) | |
Little | 8 (8.1) | 19 (19.2) | |
None | 9 (9.1) | 19 (19.2) | |
Paresthesias and/or erection problems | 0.772 | ||
Very | 5 (5.1) | 14 (14.1) | |
Enough | 12 (12.1) | 18 (18.2) | |
Little | 10 (10.1) | 20 (20.2) | |
None | 6 (6.1) | 14 (14.1) | |
Decreased vaginal lubrication | 0.028 * | ||
Very | 5 (5.1) | 3 (3.0) | |
Enough | 5 (5.1) | 10 (10.1) | |
Little | 10 (10.1) | 9 (9.1) | |
None | 13 (13.1) | 44 (44.4) | |
Interference of many other problems that do not allow thinking about sexuality | 0.311 | ||
Very | 5 (5.1) | 4 (4.0) | |
Enough | 6 (6.1) | 11 (11.1) | |
Little | 6 (6.1) | 21 (21.2) | |
None | 16 (16.2) | 30 (30.3) | |
Bladder or bowel disorders | 0.316 | ||
Very | 7 (7.1) | 7 (7.1) | |
Enough | 8 (8.1) | 20 (20.2) | |
Little | 8 (8.1) | 24 (24.2) | |
None | 10 (10.1) | 15 (15.2) | |
Sense of social isolation | 0.015 * | ||
Very | 10 (10.1) | 5 (5.1) | |
Enough | 4 (4.0) | 9 (9.1) | |
Little | 9 (9.1) | 16 (16.2) | |
None | 10 (10.1) | 36 (36.4) | |
Poor concentration | 0.641 | ||
Very | 4 (4.0) | 6 (6.1) | |
Enough | 7 (7.1) | 9 (9.1) | |
Little | 9 (9.1) | 17 (17.2) | |
None | 13 (13.1) | 34 (34.3) | |
Role changes and/or conflicts | 0.187 | ||
Very | 5 (5.1) | 7 (7.1) | |
Enough | 12 (12.1) | 18 (18.2) | |
Little | 5 (5.1) | 24 (24.2) | |
None | 11 (11.1) | 17 (17.2) | |
Catheter management | 0.046 * | ||
Very | 7 (7.1) | 4 (4.0) | |
Enough | 3 (3.0) | 5 (5.1) | |
Little | 11 (11.1) | 16 (16.2) | |
None | 12 (12.1) | 41 (41.4) | |
Socio-cultural expectations and biases that inhibit sexuality | 0.028 * | ||
Very | 2 (2.0) | 0 (0) | |
Enough | 1 (1.0) | 1 (1.0) | |
Little | 10 (10.1) | 9 (9.1) | |
None | 20 (20.2) | 56 (56.6) |
Domain | Variable | p-Value | Group with Greater Impact |
---|---|---|---|
Work and relationships | Relationships with colleagues | 0.020 | Early stage |
Engagement in professional activities | 0.019 | Early stage | |
Daily difficulties | Uncertainty about the future | 0.046 | Advanced stage |
Sexual dysfunction caused by the disease | 0.030 | Advanced stage | |
Sexuality | Loss of sexual desire | 0.003 | Advanced stage |
Decreased vaginal lubrication | 0.028 | Advanced stage | |
Social relationships | Sense of social isolation | 0.015 | Advanced stage |
Health management | Catheter management | 0.046 | Advanced stage |
Socio-cultural dimension | Prejudices and expectations causing sexual inhibition | 0.028 | Advanced stage |
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Vitale, E.; Lupo, R.; Panzanaro, L.; Visconti, R.; Tumolo, M.R.; Caldararo, P.; Cucci, F.; Cascio, D.; De Nunzio, G.; Botti, S.; et al. Understanding the Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Quality of Life: An Italian Pilot Study. Brain Sci. 2025, 15, 960. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15090960
Vitale E, Lupo R, Panzanaro L, Visconti R, Tumolo MR, Caldararo P, Cucci F, Cascio D, De Nunzio G, Botti S, et al. Understanding the Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Quality of Life: An Italian Pilot Study. Brain Sciences. 2025; 15(9):960. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15090960
Chicago/Turabian StyleVitale, Elsa, Roberto Lupo, Ludovica Panzanaro, Rebecca Visconti, Maria Rosaria Tumolo, Paolo Caldararo, Federico Cucci, Donato Cascio, Giorgio De Nunzio, Stefano Botti, and et al. 2025. "Understanding the Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Quality of Life: An Italian Pilot Study" Brain Sciences 15, no. 9: 960. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15090960
APA StyleVitale, E., Lupo, R., Panzanaro, L., Visconti, R., Tumolo, M. R., Caldararo, P., Cucci, F., Cascio, D., De Nunzio, G., Botti, S., Rubbi, I., & Conte, L. (2025). Understanding the Impact of Multiple Sclerosis on Quality of Life: An Italian Pilot Study. Brain Sciences, 15(9), 960. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15090960