Total sample (n = 149) n (%) | Mild EDSS 0–4.5 (n = 35) n (%) | Moderate EDSS 5.0–6.5 (n = 61) n (%) | Severe EDSS 7.0–9.5 (n = 53) n (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Male/female (% male) | 50/99 (34) | 9/26 (26) | 22/39 (36) | 19/34 (36) |
Mean age in years (SD) (range) | 51.0 (13.1) (24–82) | 47.9 (12.9) (26–82) | 50.7 (12.4) (26–78) | 53.4 (13.9) (24–76) |
Disease pattern (%) | ||||
Secondary progressive | 61 (41) | 3 (9) | 22 (36) | 36 (68) |
Primary progressive | 22 (15) | 1 (3) | 10 (16) | 11 (21) |
Relapsing remitting | 57 (38) | 22 (63) | 29 (48) | 6 (11) |
Benign | 9 (6) | 9 (26) | – | – |
Mean years since first symptoms (SD) (range) | 19.0 (9.0) (0–41) | 13.7 (8.1) (3–33) | 15.5 (9.2) (2–37) | 18.1 (9.1) (0–41) |
Mean years since diagnosis (SD) (range) | 11.8 (8.4) (0–39) | 8.0 (6.2) (0–22) | 11.0 (8.5) (0–36) | 15.2 (8.3) (0–39) |
Marital status (%) | ||||
Married/cohabiting | 98 (66) | 28 (80) | 38 (62) | 32 (60) |
Separated/divorced | 14 (9) | 4 (11) | 9 (15) | 1 (2) |
Widowed | 14 (9) | 2 (6) | 5 (8) | 7 (13) |
Single, never married | 23 (15) | 1 (3) | 9 (15) | 13 (25) |
Household (%) | ||||
Lives alone | 26 (17) | 4 (11) | 16 (26) | 6 (11) |
Lives with children only (<18 years) | 4 (3) | 1 (3) | 3 (5) | 0 |
Lives with spouse only | 38 (26) | 11 (31) | 16 (26) | 11 (21) |
Lives with family or friend | 77 (52) | 19 (54) | 26 (43) | 32 (60) |
Lives in a care home | 4 (3) | 0 | 0 | 4 (8) |
House alterations (%) | ||||
No | 79 (53) | 30 (86) | 29 (48) | 20 (38) |
Yes | 70 (47) | 5 (14) | 32 (52) | 33 (62) |
Waiting for house alterations | 7 (5) | 1 (3) | 5 (8) | 1 (2) |
Employment (%) | ||||
Employed | 32 (21) | 15 (43) | 13 (21) | 4 (8) |
Medically retired | 83 (56) | 12 (34) | 31 (51) | 40 (75) |
Retired due to age | 16 (11) | 4 (11) | 8 (13) | 4 (8) |
Homemaker/student/unemployed | 18 (12) | 4 (11) | 9 (15) | 5 (9) |
Pensions and benefits (%) | ||||
Pension | 47 (32) | 8 (23) | 14 (23) | 25 (47) |
Disability related income | 116 (78) | 14 (40) | 54 (89) | 48 (91) |
Other benefit | 24 (16) | 2 (6) | 14 (23) | 8 (15) |
No benefits | 23 (15) | 15 (43) | 6 (10) | 2 (4) |
EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Score. SD = standard deviation.