Measuring the symptoms and impacts of fatigue in adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis using a novel disease specific scale: A real-world study in US population

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. It affects more than 700,000 people in Europe, and is one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young and middle-aged adults, with females up to three times more frequently impacted than males. While prevalence varies worldwide, it is highest in Europe and North America. The disease is characterized by demyelination and axonal loss leading to neurological impairment and severe disability. Relapsing forms of MS include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS (which makes up 85 percent of all MS cases), and secondary progressive MS. In addition to the debilitating neurological symptoms of the disease, patients often also suffer from “hidden symptoms,” namely fatigue and depression, both of which are major contributors to reduced quality of life. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS, occurring in about 80 percent of patients.

Objective: To measure multiple sclerosis (MS) fatigue and its impact on daily life in a real-world population using a survey including the relapsing MS (RMS)-specific Fatigue Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire-Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FSIQ-RMS).