Correlation of the symbol digit modalities test with the quality of life and depression in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis

Masaaki Niino; Shoko Fukumoto; Tatsusada Okuno; Nobuo Sanjo; Hikoaki Fukaura; Masahiro Mori; Takashi Ohashi; Hideyuki Takeuchi; Yuko Shimizu; Juichi Fujimori; Izumi Kawachi; Jun-Ichi Kira; Eri Takahashi; Yusei Miyazaki; Nobuhiro Mifune

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2021.103427

Correlation of the symbol digit modalities test with the quality of life and depression in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022 Jan:57:103427. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103427. Epub 2021 Nov 24.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Medical Center, Sapporo, Japan. Electronic address: niino.masaaki.tc@mail.hosp.go.jp.
² Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
³ Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.
⁴ Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Department of Neurology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Japan.
⁶ Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
⁷ Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.
⁸ Department of Neurology and Stroke Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
⁹ Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Neurology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan.
¹¹ Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan / Medical Education Center, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
¹² Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Medical Center, Sapporo, Japan.
¹³ School of Economics and Management, Kochi University of Technology, Kochi, Japan.

PMID: 34861614
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103427

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between cognitive impairment and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), fatigue, and depression in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) was performed in 184 Japanese patients with MS. The Functional Assessment of MS (FAMS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) were used to evaluate HRQOL, fatigue, and depression, respectively.

Results: Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated positive correlations of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) with the scores on the FAMS subscales of mobility, symptoms, emotional well-being, and additional concerns and with the total FAMS score even after controlling for the Expanded Disability Status Scale score, age at examination, and duration of education. The SDMT score in the BICAMS battery had negative correlations with the BDI-II score, as revealed by multiple linear regression analysis. None of the three tests in the BICAMS had any correlation with the FSS score.

Conclusion: The SDMT has a significant relationship with HRQOL and depression in Japanese patients with MS.

Keywords: Cognition; Depression; Fatigue; Japanese; Multiple sclerosis; Quality of life.

MeSH terms

Depression / epidemiology
Humans
Japan
Multiple Sclerosis* / complications
Multiple Sclerosis* / epidemiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Quality of Life*