Cognitive impairment is correlated with reduced quality of life in patients with clinically isolated syndrome Comprometimento cognitivo correlaciona-se com redução da qualidade de vida em pacientes com síndrome clinicamente isolada

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and potential QoL determinants in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). METHODS: Eighteen CIS patients and eighteen controls were submitted to QoL evaluation with Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis QoL instrument (FAMS). Cognition was evaluated with specific battery tests; Anxiety and depression with Beck Anxiety (BAI) and Depression (BDI) Inventories and Neurological disability with Guy's Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in QoL between CIS patients and controls. CIS patients had worse performance in Paced Auditory Serial Addition 2 seconds (p=0.009) and fluency tests (p=0.0038). There was a significant difference in BAI (p=0.003), but no significant difference in BDI between patients and controls. There were significant correlations between QoL measure and verbal fluency and Stroop's test. CONCLUSIONS: Cognition, but not anxiety, depression and disability, was associated with reduced quality of life.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida (QoL) e seus potenciais determinantes em pacientes com síndrome clinicamente isolada (SCI). MÉTODOS: Dezoito pacientes com SCI e 18 controles realizaram avaliação da QoL com Escala de Determinação da QoL na Esclerose Múltipla; cognição foi avaliada com bateria de testes específica; ansiedade e depressão com os Inventários de Beck de ansiedade (BAI) e de depressão (BDI) e a incapacidade neurológica com a Guy's Neurological Disability Scale. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença significativa na QoL avaliada entre pacientes com SCI e controles. Pacientes com SCI apresentaram pior desempenho no Pased Auditory Serial Addition 2 segundos (p=0,009) e na fluência verbal (p=0,0038). Houve diferença no BAI (p=0,003), entretanto sem diferença do BDI entre pacientes e controles. Houve correlações significativas entre QoL, fluência verbal e Stroop. CONCLUSÕES: Alterações cognitivas tiveram correlação com diminuição da QoL, o que não ocorreu com a depressão, ansiedade e incapacidade neurológica.