Significant Variance in Outcomes Found in Danish MS Hospitals Rehabilitation Study
Results from the Danish MS Hospitals Rehabilitation Study presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) found that multidisciplinary rehabilitation (MDR) improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical functioning for patients with MS. However, the duration and degree of improvement varied depending on MDR focus area. The study examined the poorly understood interplay of individual MS challenges, rehabilitation strategy, and the resulting effectiveness of various types of rehabilitation. Details about the elements included in specific MDR programs were not provided in the abstract.
Prior to the study, the 390 participants with MS met with a case manager and certified coach to each be assigned to 1 of 5 MDR focus areas. The 5 groups were: resilience (n = 62), cognitive function (n = 55), energy (n = 125), physical function (n = 137), and personal needs (n = 11). Researchers measured functioning and HRQOL at baseline, discharge, and 6 months and 1 year follow up using the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) scale.
At discharge, participants in all 5 focus area groups significantly improved in HRQOL measures. After 1 year, treatment effects were +17.8 for the personal needs group, +12.7 for resilience, +11.3 for energy, and +9.5 for cognitive function. Participants in the physical function group experienced less benefit after 1 year, with an effect of +0.3. The findings indicate that MDR may be effective at improving the HRQOL of patients with MS. However, MDR focusing on personal needs and resilience may have longer-lasting and stronger benefits than physical activity-focused MDR treatments.
The study authors from the Danish MS Hospitals, University of Southern Denmark, Aarhus University Hospital, and Danish Technological Institute also note that MDR goals may change over the course of treatment, so it is important for care providers to regularly review their patients’ needs.