Physical activity assessment among patients with multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To measure and assess the physical activity (PA) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and its association with the quality of life (QoL).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients with MS in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from August, 2022 to November, 2022. Data were collected via social media platforms using a questionnaire that included 3 sections: sociodemographic data, International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Health Status Questionnaire Short Form-36 (SF-36).

Results: In total, 145 eligible patients with MS were included. The patients’ ages ranged from 18 to 60 years, with a mean age of 33.2±13.9 years. Females were predominantly affected, and most of the patients were either not working or retired. Relapsing-remitting MS constituted the majority (66.2%) of patients. Additionally, most patients (75.9%) were free from co-morbidities. Approximately 41.7% of patients with high PA levels had good QoL scores.

Conclusion: Higher PA levels was significantly associated with better QoL in patients with MS. High PA can improve the QoL by taking into consideration several factors that could influence readiness for exercise and its effect on MS symptoms.