The Effect of Cognitive Status on Work Productivity and Activities in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a recurrent, chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by various symptoms such as vision problems, balance, gait, and cognitive impairments. In MS, the decline in cognitive function can be a difficult symptom to detect, which may lead to negative consequences in work and social situations. Consequently, this decline could impact individuals' work productivity in multiple ways, including job termination, reduced working hours, and experiencing work-related adverse events. This study aims to examine the relationship between cognitive status and work productivity and activities in individuals with MS. Sociodemographic and occupational characteristics of the patients are also considered. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) is used to evaluate participants' cognitive status. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI:MS) is utilized to assess work productivity and activities in MS patients. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were performed to analyze the relationship between continuous variables in the study. A total of 144 patients participated in the study. Of these patients, 81.2% have relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Working patients make up 42.4% of these individuals. In this study, it was observed that BICAMS subtest scores for working patients were higher than those of the non-working patient group. When analyzing the causal relationship between working patients' cognitive status scores and work productivity and activities, no statistically significant result was obtained. On the other hand, it is advised to look into larger patient groups to investigate the relationship between cognitive status and employment in individuals with MS.