Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk for eating disorder and health-related quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and also to determine the factors associated with risk for eating disorder.

Methods:

The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 57 patients. Data were collected by using a questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the MS Quality of Life-54 Instrument (MSQOL-54). The Kolmogrov-Smirnov test, descriptive analysis, reliability analysis, and correlation analysis were applied to analyze the data.

Results:

The mean EAT score of the patients was 18.4±8.4. Total six patients (10.5%) had risk for eating disorder. The mean MSQOL-54 physical health composite score was 64.1±22.3, and the mean mental health composite score was 66.4±22.0. It was found that there were significant negative correlations between the EAT scores and the MSQOL-54 physical health composite subscale scores (p<0.05). The EAT scores were negatively correlated with the MSQOL-54 mental health composite score (p<0.05) and role limitations due to mental problems subscale score (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

The results of this study showed that the risk for eating disorder was relatively high in patients with MS and the health-related quality of life of patients was also higher than moderate level. The risk for eating disorder adversely affected health-related quality of life of patients.

Keywords: Eating disorders, multiple sclerosis, health-related quality of life.