Health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in Friedreich ataxia

Javier Pérez-Flores, Atteneri Hernández-Torres, Fernando Montón, Antonieta Nieto; Qual Life Res. 2019 Sep 28. doi: 10.1007/s11136-019-02311-9.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a chronic, progressive and highly disabling cerebellar degenerative disease. Despite this, little attention has been paid to the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in this disease. The aim of the present study was to assess FRDA patients’ perception of HRQOL and to determine the influence of depression, and demographic and clinical variables.
Our study demonstrates the high impact of Friedreich ataxia on quality of life. This impact does not only occur in those aspects most related to motor disability but it is also present in non-motor dimensions. Depressive symptomatology is the most relevant variable for predicting quality of life.

Health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in Friedreich ataxia