BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who live in Tehran and to compare data with evaluations of both the general population and MS patients in other countries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and forty patients with MS, yet without severe comorbidity, were selected according to convenience sampling in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected by means of the SF-36 questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Expanded Disability Status Scale of Kurtzke (EDSS) and Mini Mental State Examination were recorded for all patients.

RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 34.7 years. For all SF-36 scales, MS patients were found to have lower scores, after adjustment for sex and age, compared with the general population. BDI and EDSS scores were significantly and negatively correlated with all of the SF-36 scales. Moreover, the BDI and EDSS were found to be positively correlated with one another (r = 0.415, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings strongly confirm that patients with MS suffer from poor HRQoL. Depression had a strong effect on HRQoL and in order to improve HRQoL in MS patients the prevention and treatment of depression is vital.