INTRODUCTIONThe Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life questionnaire (MusiQoL) is a self-administered, multi-dimensional, patient-based health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument. With increasing prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Asian countries, a valid tool to assess HRQoL in those patients is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient acceptability, content validity and psychometric properties of an Asian version of the English MusiQoL in Singapore, Malaysia and India.

MATERIALS AND METHODSEnglish speaking patients older than 18 years of age with a defi nite diagnosis of MS were included. The self-administered survey material included the adapted HRQoL questionnaire, a validated generic HRQoL questionnaire: the short-form 36 (SF-36), as well as a checklist of 14 symptoms. We assessed the internal and external validity of the adapted MusiQoL.

RESULTSA total of 81 patients with MS were included in the study. The questionnaire was generally well accepted. In the samples from Malaysia and Singapore, all scales exhibited good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.70). Correlation to SF-36 was generally good, demonstrating high construct validity (P <0.001) in some aspects of the MusiQoL.

CONCLUSIONThe Asian adaptation of the English version of the MusiQoL in evaluating HRQoL seems to be a valid, reliable tool with adequate patient acceptability and internal consistency.

Activities of Daily Living ; Asia ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; India ; Language ; Malaysia ; Male ; Multiple Sclerosis ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Psychometrics ; standards ; Quality of Life ; psychology ; Singapore ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis is underreported because of difficulty in diagnosis and assessment. In Western series, pediatric-onset disease showed significant differences from adult-onset disease with higher female preponderance, polysymptomatic in onset, frequent systemic manifestation in relapses, higher relapse rate, but less disability, and fewer lesions in brain magnetic resonance imaging. Multiple sclerosis manifests differently in Asians, yet there was no large series of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis reported. We found that pediatric-onset disease in Asians showed greater similarity with adult-onset disease without the reported differences in female preponderance, relapse rate, and magnetic resonance imaging findings. There were also similar proportion and clinical features in optico-spinal form, and long spinal cord lesions were common in both groups. The significant difference was less disability among the pediatric-onset group. Thus, although multiple sclerosis in Asia is different from Western countries, there is greater similarity between the pediatric-onset and adult-onset group in Asia.
Multiple Sclerosis ; Adult ; Asia ; Pediatric ; Cancer Relapse

Background and Objective: Comparable data are sparse for infl ammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) in the Asia-Pacifi c region, and we aimed to establish a registry of patients with such diseases in the region. Methods: A network of neurologists in the Asia-Pacifi c Region was established to register patients with the targeted diseases. A standardized register form and relevant instructions in English, translated into the local language when needed, were prepared before the study start and used for data collection. Results: Eight study centres from different countries/areas participated in the study. In total, 857 patients with a validated diagnosis of different infl ammatory demyelinating diseases of the CNS were registered, 591 females and 266 males with a female-to-male ratio 2.2. The mean age at onset for all patients was 35.9 (SD: 12.9) years, signifi cantly younger (p = 0.010) for females (35.1 years, SD: 12.6 years) than for males (37.6 years, SD: 13.4 years). Conclusion: Patients with different infl ammatory demyelinating diseases of the CNS were in the fi rst time registered in a multi-centre study from eight countries/areas in the Asia-Pacifi c region. A platform and basis has been established for further study in the fi eld.

Background and Objective: There is a paucity of studies looking into the frequency of complications after stroke among Asians. We sought to determine the frequency and rate of complications among Asians after acute stroke. Methods: Consecutive patients with acute stroke among 10 participating Asian countries were included in the study. The frequency and timing of pre-determined complications, and their relation to area of admission were noted. Results: Of the 1,153 patients included in the study, 423 (41.9%) developed complications within the first 2 weeks of stroke. Recurrent stroke, chest infections and urinary tract infections were most commonly encountered, and were most frequent within the first week of stroke onset. A lower rate of complications was noted among patients admitted at an organized stroke unit. Conclusion: There is a similar rate of frequency and timing of complications after acute stroke among Asians as compared with other populations.