The Effect of Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality on Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis by Gender: A Descriptive Study from Turkey

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that progresses with crisis and remission and causes significant  psychosocial problems. Fatigue and sleep disorders are reported to be the most frequent problems that could change by gender and  potentially affect daily living activities. 

Aim: This study aimed to examine the effects of pain, fatigue, and sleep quality on the activities of  daily living in patients with multiple sclerosis by gender. 

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 188 patients with MS. G*Power 3.4.9 was used in the study sample estimation, and it was found that at least 111 women and 45 men individuals should be reached with  0.5 (medium) effect size, 80% power, 5% type I error, and 2.5 allocation ratio. Considering 10% data loss, the study was completed with  188 multiple sclerosis patients, 134 women and 54 men. Results: PwMS’s pain, fatigue, sleep, and daily living activities were compared  according to gender; it was found that the difference in the mean scores of women’s PSQI subdimension “habitual sleep efficiency” was  statistically significantly higher than that of men’s (P < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between FIS scores and NEADL total scores  and subdimension scores in men and women with MS (P < 0.05). In women with MS, the degree of fatigue being “important”  (9.184 units) and “very important” (7.893 units) reduces daily living activities. In men with MS, “poor sleep quality” reduces activities of  daily living (11.559 units). 

Conclusion: According to gender, women’s DLA was negatively affected by fatigue, while men’s DLA was  negatively affected by poor sleep quality. Therefore, increased sleep disorders in men and fatigue in women may cause a decrease in  daily life activities.