Depression mediates the relationship between fatigue and mental health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis

BackgroundFatigue is among the most prevalent symptoms for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and significantly detrimental to mental health-related (mental) quality of life (QoL). We examined role depression physical activity as mediators in fatigue-QoL relationship pwMS.MethodsUsing baseline cross-sectional data from an international cohort 2,104 pwMS, characteristics fatigue QoL, measured by Fatigue Severity Scale MSQOL-54 respectively, were assessed using linear log-binomial regression. Structural Equation Models (SEM) used explore mediating roles between QoL.ResultsThe median QoL score was 71.9/100. The mean 41.5/63, 65.6% participants having clinically significant fatigue. In SEM evaluating a mediator relationship, 14.72 points lower (95% CI: -16.43 -13.01, p<0.001) fatigue, which accounted 53.0% (-7.80, 95% -9.03 -6.57, p<0.001). 10.89 -12.47, -9.32, indirect effect via only 4.4% (-0.48, -0.81, -0.14, p=0.005).ConclusionDepression majority fatigue-mental when modelled mediator, while had minor role. Our findings may inform development treatments reducing impacts improving pwMS.