Lifestyle changes and patient-reported outcomes over five years in a sample of people with multiple sclerosis after a single multimodal intensive lifestyle education workshop

Jeanette Reece; George A Jelinek; Elasma Milanzi; Steve Simpson-Yap; Sandra L Neate; Keryn L Taylor; Pia L Jelinek; Rebekah Davenport; William Bevens; Maggie Yu

doi:10.1007/s10072-024-07811-2

Lifestyle changes and patient-reported outcomes over five years in a sample of people with multiple sclerosis after a single multimodal intensive lifestyle education workshop

Neurol Sci. 2024 Oct 21. doi: 10.1007/s10072-024-07811-2. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jeanette Reece¹, George A Jelinek², Elasma Milanzi³, Steve Simpson-Yap^{1

4

5}, Sandra L Neate¹, Keryn L Taylor^{1

6}, Pia L Jelinek^{1

7}, Rebekah Davenport⁸, William Bevens^#^{1

9}, Maggie Yu^#¹

Affiliations

¹ Neuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
² Neuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. g.jelinek@unimelb.edu.au.
³ Biostatistics Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
⁴ Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
⁵ Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
⁶ Interface Psychiatry Private Practice, Wellington, New Zealand.
⁷ Woodlands Family Practice, Woodlands, WA, Australia.
⁸ Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
⁹ Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, US.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39432178
DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07811-2

Abstract

Introduction: Modifiable lifestyle risk factors for progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) have been increasingly studied. This study employed a single-group design involving a one-off intensive live-in educational workshop on lifestyle modification for people with MS. We aimed to examine changes in a range of clinical and lifestyle variables and quality of life, self-efficacy, physical impact of MS and disability from baseline to 3- and 5-years post-intervention.

Methods: 95 participants completed the baseline survey. Data included lifestyle risk factors of diet quality, meat and dairy consumption, omega 3 and vitamin D supplementation, physical activity, stress reducing activities, and smoking status, and use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Patient-reported outcomes included health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, physical impact of MS and disability. Generalised estimating equation models were used to account for within-participant correlation over time.

Results: Sixty participants (63.2%) provided data at 3- and 5-years. Significant improvements in diet quality, omega 3 supplementation, and non-smoking were seen at both timepoints. Use of DMTs and disability remained unchanged. Mental (8.8- and 6.9-point) and physical (10.5- and 7.3-point) quality of life, and self-efficacy (2.4- and 1.9-point) improved significantly at 3- and 5-years, respectively. Physical impact of MS reduced from baseline to 3-years (-3.7 points) with a trend towards reduction at 5-years (-2.9 points; p = 0.079).

Conclusions: Education on lifestyle modification can lead to lifestyle modification and short and long-term improvements in mental and physical wellbeing outcomes. Results suggest potential value in lifestyle modification as an adjunctive component to standard therapy for MS.