Photo credit: Nathan DeBerry
A telelifestyle intervention program focused on diet and exercise improved function and quality of life in patients with early MS.
“Various diet and exercise protocols have been reported to improve symptoms and function in MS patients,” Dr. Prabha Sidharth and colleagues wrote. “Evidence is accumulating that intervention as early as possible in the course of the disease is warranted. We investigated the effectiveness of the lifestyle programs offered.”
Dr. Siddarth and colleagues conducted a retrospective study to investigate the impact of a remotely monitored lifestyle program that emphasizes specific dietary and exercise recommendations in patients with early-stage MS. Diagnosis of MS within 2 years before the start of the study served as an enrollment criterion.
Participants received six telehealth coaching sessions over 12 weeks. Sessions covered the Mediterranean diet and a personalized exercise plan that included duration, intensity, and type of aerobics, resistance, neuromotor/conditioning, flexibility, and more.
Outcome measures include quality of life; Cognitive ability, measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Fatigue, measured by the MS Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Fitness estimated in metabolic equivalents (METS). and other objective and patient-reported outcomes. Changes were analyzed using a mixed-effects general linear model and standardized pre-post differences.
Improved quality of life, cognition, and adherence
Researchers enrolled 15 patients (mean age at baseline, 35.2 years; mean EDSS, 1.1 years). Almost all enrolled patients (n=14) completed the study.
Dr. Sidharth et al reported significant improvements in overall quality of life (P=0.02) and cognitive performance (by SDMT; P=0.006), the cognitive portion of the Timed Up and Go test (P=0.01), and the cognitive subscale. I did. MSQOL-29 (P=0.03). Additionally, significant improvements were seen in the total MFIS score (P=0.005) and cognitive subscales (P=0.005).
Participants showed improved adherence to the Mediterranean diet (P=0.002) and fitness (according to METS; P=0.04). Although the researchers observed an increase in physical activity by the end of the intervention compared to baseline, this difference was not significant.
Overall, patient satisfaction was high and feedback indicated that recommendations were easy to follow. Participants reported high confidence levels in their knowledge of MS and reported feeling less anxious about disease management.
The study results “suggest that lifestyle coaching delivered remotely improves quality of life and cognition in newly diagnosed MS patients,” Dr. Sidharth and colleagues wrote. “This adds to the existing literature that it is possible to provide lifestyle guidance to MS patients via telemedicine means, and this may be useful for other populations suffering from early stage memory loss. It has also been reported.”
