Living with Multiple Sclerosis in Europe: Pharmacological Treatments, Cost of Illness, and Health-Related Quality of Life Across Countries

More than 700,000 people suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) in Europe. This implies that more than 1 million people are affected by this disease through their role as caregivers and family members. Given its relevant impact, MS deserves consideration by epidemiologists, clinicians, psychologists, social scientists and other scholars. Such interdisciplinarity is stressed in the present contribution, which focuses on various aspects of socioeconomic burden. Starting from considerations about the epidemiology of the disease in Europe, as outlined by the MS Barometer, a comparative survey based on data collected by the national MS societies and launched in 2008, a brief literature review for each European country mentioned in the report was carried out with the following key terms: “multiple sclerosis,” “cost of illness,” and “health-related quality of life (HRQoL).” The consideration of the level of assistance provided, the access to rehabilitation centers, and the availability of pharmacological treatments, especially innovative therapies, reveal how there are still huge differences across Europe. Literature contributions are mostly oriented toward HRQoL studies and the impact of new pharmacological treatments. There are less studies focusing on compliance: this may be the consequence of a higher awareness of the disease among the patients and a strengthened cooperation with the physicians. Some suggestions about foreseeable and desirable lines of research conclude the contribution.