Interferon-beta-1a treatment has a positive effect on quality of life of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Results from a longitudinal study

Purpose: The impact of interferon beta (IFN beta) therapy on a patient's quality of life (QoL) has not been completely clarified. This multicenter, independent, observational and longitudinal study was aimed to evaluate the impact of different pharmaceutical formulations of IFN beta-1a on QoL in patients affected by relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: The multiple sclerosis quality of life-54 questionnaire was used to assess patients' QoL. Results: 394 (66%) patients completed the two-year study; 152 were treated with IFN beta-1a i.m. weekly injected (group a), 152 with IFN beta-1a 44 mu g s.c. injected three times a week (group b) and 90 were untreated (group c). After two years, a significant increase was found in the physical health composite score (Delta = +3.1 in group a, Delta = +3 in group b, p < 0.05 in both), mental health composite score (Delta = +4.7 in group a, Delta = +5.5 in group b, p < 0.001 in both), in eight MSQoL sub-items of group a and in seven sub-items in group b. Conversely, the untreated group showed a slight decrease in seven domains. The variable "therapy with DMDs" was associated with improved QoL. Conclusion: QoL of RRMS could be improved by IFN beta-1a treatment, despite natural history data which seem to demonstrate that QoL could get worse over the time