1032 Insomnia Symptom Severity and Quality of Life in Persons with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Introduction Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is often found to be decreased in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) when compared with healthy persons. While depression and fatigue have emerged as the primary correlates of HRQoL among pwMS, the unique contribution of insomnia, which covaries with depression and fatigue, has not been studied within this population. Examination of the association between insomnia and HRQoL may, thereby, provide a new avenue for improving well-being in pwMS. Methods Preliminary analyses were conducted to examine 30 participants with relapsing-remitting MS who completed a demographic questionnaire, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Beck Depression Inventory Fast Screen (BDI-FS), and the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54). Participants were excluded if they had experienced an exacerbation of symptoms or change in medical regimen within 30 days of participation. Multiple regression analyses with ISI, BDI-FS, FSS as predictor variables and MSQOL-54 composites as outcome variables, were utilized to assess the relationships between insomnia symptom severity, depression, fatigue, and physical (pMSQOL-54) and mental health-related quality of life (mMSQOL-54). Results ISI scores were significantly associated with the Physical Health Composite of the MSQOL-54, when controlling for BDI-FS and FSS scores, b = -1.33, SEb = .49, 95% CIb [-2.35, -.38], p = .01. The overall model explained 55% of the variance seen in pMSQOL-54 scores (R2 = .55). ISI scores were not significantly associated with the Mental Health Composite of the MSQOL-54, after adjusting for BDI-FS and FSS scores. Conclusion Insomnia symptom severity is an independent predictor of physical HRQoL. The extent to which treatment of insomnia can improve physical HRQoL in pwMS remains to be determined. Support (If Any) No support to disclose.