Variables influencing quality of life and disability in CMT patients

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Neurol Sci. 2006 Dec;27(6):417-23.

Variables influencing quality of life and disability in Charcot

Marie Tooth (CMT) patients: Italian multicentre study.

Padua L, Aprile I, Cavallaro T, Commodari I, La Torre G, Pareyson D,

Quattrone A, Rizzuto N, Vita G, Tonali P, Schenone A; for the

Italian CMT QoL Study Group.

Institute of Neurology, Universita Cattolica, L.go F. Vito 1, I-

00168, Rome, Italy.

The purpose of this study was to assess the variables that influence

quality of life (QoL) and disability in patients with Charcot-Marie-

Tooth disease (CMT). We performed a prospective multicentre study

using validated clinical disability and QoL measurements.

Multivariate analysis was performed using QoL as a dependent

variable and duration of symptoms, age, gender and CMT type,

depression and disability measurements as independent variables. We

enrolled 211 patients.

QoL was highly significantly deteriorated with respect to the

Italian normative sample. The physical aspect of QoL was mainly

related to disability but it does not increase with the age,

probably because of an adaptation between expectation and reality.

The mental QoL is influenced by depression (hence we have to

consider this aspect approaching CMT patients). Moreover, we

observed that women complained of more severe symptoms than men.

Finally, some CMT subtypes are related to more severe bodily pain

symptoms than others. Multiperspective assessment of CMT showed new

aspects of this disease, mainly regarding (1) differences between

men and women and (2) the crucial role of pain and depression.