Home Publications Research Grants Inventions & Patents Awards Additional Research Activities Faculties & Institutions Research Areas

MS-int@kt: subgroup analysis of an internet based training on fatigue, quality of life and gait

Bures AK, Kuld S, Weiland AC, Tallner A, Gusowski K, Pfeifer K, Flachenecker P (2018)

---

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Conference Contribution

Publication year: 2018

Event location: Amsterdam

Abstract

Background – Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) benefit from inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation with regard to fatigue and motor performance. To sustain these positive effects an internet based training program was introduced during rehabilitation and performed for 3 months thereafter. Primary endpoint analysis showed that the internet based training could maintain the improvements on fatigue for up to 6 months.

Objectives – In order to determine which PwMS revealed the most pronounced response to therapy, we performed a subgroup analysis by stratifying PwMS according to their baseline performance.

Methods – 34 PwMS participated in the training group and 30 in the control group. Performance orientated mobility assessment (POMA) for the risk of fall, 10m-walk-test (10mW) and 2 minutes-walk-test (2minW) were measured at the beginning of the inpatient rehabilitation program (T0), at discharge (T1) and 3 month  after the training program (T2). Fatigue (WEIMuS scale) and quality of life (MSIS 29 and EQ-5d visual analog scale) were measured at T0, T1, T2 and 6 months after discharge (T3). With regard to POMA and EQ-5d VAS, PwMS were divided into two groups according to the median value at T0, whereas the dividers for 10mW and 2minW were 7 sec., 14 steps and 168m, respectively.

Results – The effects of rehabilitation on fatigue and quality of life were maintained atT2 and T3 in the training group and returned nearly to baseline values in the control group.  The motor performance of the training group also sustained the positive effects of inpatient rehabilitation at T2. Subgroup analysis at T2 according to the baseline performance showed a significant benefit in 10mW seconds and number of steps for PwMS with low performance (p=<0.05). The POMA also revealed a high significant benefit for the PwMS with low performance (p=<0.001) but not in the high performance subgroup. A different result was seen in 2MW where the high performance subgroup maintained high significantly (p=<0.001) in regard to T0.

EQ-5d visual analog scale values remained highly significant (p<0.001) at T2 and T3 in the training group but dropped down below baseline in the control group. The subgroup analysis of the training group confirmed these results, being highly significant only for the low performance group.

Conclusions – Statistically and clinically meaningful improvement of fatigue, quality of life and motor performance were demonstrated after a 3 month internet based training program (MS int@kt). The most pronounced effects were observed in PwMS with low performance at baseline. The results in the high performance groups may be influenced by ceiling effects. Taken together, an internet based training may be effective for PwMS after rehabilitation to maintain the positive effects of inpatient rehabilitation for at least up to 6 months.

Authors with CRIS profile

How to cite

APA:

Bures, A.-K., Kuld, S., Weiland, A.-C., Tallner, A., Gusowski, K., Pfeifer, K., & Flachenecker, P. (2018). MS-int@kt: subgroup analysis of an internet based training on fatigue, quality of life and gait. In Proceedings of the 23rd Annual RIMS Conference MS Rehabilitation across the lifespan. Amsterdam, NL.

MLA:

Bures, Anna-Karolina, et al. "MS-int@kt: subgroup analysis of an internet based training on fatigue, quality of life and gait." Proceedings of the 23rd Annual RIMS Conference MS Rehabilitation across the lifespan, Amsterdam 2018.

BibTeX: Download