Quality of life and access to treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis during economic crisis: the Lebanese experience.

IF 3.3 3区医学 Q1 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Quality of Life Research Pub Date : 2025-04-15 DOI:10.1007/s11136-025-03970-7

Maya Zeineddine, Ghida Ismail, Malak Issa, Taghrid El-Hajj, Hassan Tfaily, Mohamad Dassouki, Elie Assaf, Halim Abboud, Pascale Salameh, Amal Al-Hajje, Farid Boumediene, Bassem Yamout

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that can lead to lifelong disability, significantly impacting patient's quality of life (QOL). The current Lebanese economic crisis led to limited accessibility to MS therapies and had a major impact on QOL.The aim of this study was to assess QOL in a cohort of Lebanese MS patients, and its association with socio-demographic factors, disease characteristics, and treatment accessibility.

Methods: A cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted between June and September 2022 in Lebanese patients with confirmed MS diagnosis as per the 2017 McDonald criteria. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain (1) socio-demographic and medical information, (2) QOL assessment using the MS International QOL questionnaire (MusiQoL), and (3) information related to barriers in accessing MS therapies. All questionnaires were administered via telephone call.

Results: A total of 350 MS patients were included in the study. Most participants (92.3%) were diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS and were females (65.1%) with a mean age of 39.4 ± 11.4 years. The mean MusiQol global index was 69.2 ± 11.5. In the multivariate analysis, younger age, higher level of education, being employed, being married, living outside the capital Beirut, and having no physical disability were significantly associated with higher MusiQol global index scores. A total of 216 Lebanese MS patients (61.7%) had no access to MS treatments due to the economic crisis. Treatment discontinuation and lack of governmental or private insurance were significant predictors of lower MusiQol scores.

Conclusion: The economic crisis and resultant recession in Lebanon had a significantly negative impacted on QOL and treatment accessibility of MS patients. Socio-demographic factors, disease characteristics and treatment accessibility were strong predictors of QOL.

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经济危机期间多发性硬化症患者的生活质量和治疗途径：黎巴嫩的经验。

目的：多发性硬化（MS）是一种中枢神经系统脱髓鞘疾病，可导致终身残疾，严重影响患者的生活质量（QOL）。目前的黎巴嫩经济危机导致MS治疗的可及性有限，并对生活质量产生重大影响。本研究的目的是评估黎巴嫩MS患者队列的生活质量，及其与社会人口因素、疾病特征和治疗可及性的关系。方法：在2022年6月至9月期间，根据2017年麦当劳标准对确诊为MS的黎巴嫩患者进行了一项基于调查的横断面研究。使用结构化问卷获得(1)社会人口统计学和医学信息，(2)使用MS国际生活质量问卷（musiol）评估生活质量，以及(3)获得MS治疗障碍的相关信息。所有的调查问卷都是通过电话进行的。结果：共有350例MS患者纳入研究。大多数参与者（92.3%）被诊断为复发-缓解型MS，为女性（65.1%），平均年龄为39.4±11.4岁。平均musikol整体指数为69.2±11.5。在多变量分析中，年龄较小、受教育程度较高、有工作、已婚、居住在首都贝鲁特以外以及没有身体残疾与较高的musikol全球指数得分显著相关。由于经济危机，共有216名黎巴嫩多发性硬化症患者（61.7%）无法获得多发性硬化症治疗。治疗中断和缺乏政府或私人保险是较低musiol分数的重要预测因素。结论：黎巴嫩经济危机及其引发的经济衰退对MS患者的生活质量和治疗可及性产生了显著的负面影响。社会人口因素、疾病特征和治疗可及性是生活质量的重要预测因素。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Quality of Life Research 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

8.60%

发文量

224

审稿时长

3-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Quality of Life Research is an international, multidisciplinary journal devoted to the rapid communication of original research, theoretical articles and methodological reports related to the field of quality of life, in all the health sciences. The journal also offers editorials, literature, book and software reviews, correspondence and abstracts of conferences. Quality of life has become a prominent issue in biometry, philosophy, social science, clinical medicine, health services and outcomes research. The journal''s scope reflects the wide application of quality of life assessment and research in the biological and social sciences. All original work is subject to peer review for originality, scientific quality and relevance to a broad readership. This is an official journal of the International Society of Quality of Life Research.