IS THERE AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN UPPER LIMB FUNCTION, FATIGUE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS? CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introduction: Changes in the functions of the upper limbs in individuals with multiple sclerosis are prevalent and present themselves as a common complaint that limits the performance of basic and instrumental activities of daily living, considering the quality of life. Objectives: To describe upper limb performance, quality of life and perception of fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis and identify possible relationships between variables. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with a non-probabilistic and courtesy sample, comprising two groups; people with multiple sclerosis, of both sexes and aged between 18 and 60 years and the second with healthy individuals, matched by age and sex. Personalized assessment, including sociodemographic data; performance of the upper limbs through the Test d'Évaluation des Membres Supérieurs des Personnes Âgées; quality of life using the Functional Determination Scale of Quality of Life in patients with multiple sclerosis; and fatigue with the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale instrument. The application of the instruments will be random for each participant. Excerpt from the clinical trial approved by the ethics committee (Opinion 4,918,584). Preliminary Results: 11 subjects were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 35.73±9.76, the mean education was 16 ± 2.36 years of study and the mean time since diagnosis was 6.6 ± 4.58 years. Pearson's expressive test showed that there was no positive relationship between performance in the upper limb test and quality of life (r=-0.024 p=0.94) and positive and weak between upper limb function and fatigue (r= 0 .27 p=0.41), quality of life and fatigue had a negative and moderate voice (r=-0.46 p= 0.15). Conclusion: Although none of the correlations presented was statistically significant, there is an attempt to that the better performance of the upper limbs is related to a lower perception of fatigue, as well as a higher quality of life index.