scholarly journals Exploring polypharmacy phenomenon in newly diagnosed relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis: a cohort ambispective single-centre study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204062232098312
Author(s):  
Aurora Zanghì ◽  
Emanuele D’Amico ◽  
Salvatore Lo Fermo ◽  
Francesco Patti

Aims: We aimed to examine the frequency of polypharmacy in a large cohort of patients at the time of diagnosis of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and to explore its effects on discontinuation of first disease-modifying treatment (DMT) using survival analysis. Methods: This was a cohort ambispective single-centre study. We enrolled RRMS patients starting their first DMT between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2015. According to the number of medicines prescribed (except DMTs), we divided the patients into three groups: no-poly RRMS, minor-poly RRMS (from one to three medications), and major-poly RRMS (more than three medications). Results: A total of 392 RRMS patients were enrolled (mean age 41.1). The minor-poly RRMS group included 61 patients (15.6%) and the major-poly RRMS group included 112 (28.6%). Individuals in these groups were older and had higher median body mass index (BMI) than patients in the no-poly RRMS group ( p < 0.05). Upon multinomial regression analysis, older age at onset was associated with minor and major polypharmacy (OR 1.050, CI 1.010–1.093, p = 0.015 and OR 1.063, CI 1.026–1.101, p = 0.001, respectively) and higher BMI was associated with major polypharmacy (OR 1.186, CI 1.18–1.29, p = 0.001). The rates of discontinuation of first DMT were similar among the three groups (50.7% for no-Poly RRMS, 50.8% for minor-Poly RRMS, and 53.3% for major-Poly RRMS, p = 0.264). At log-Rank test, there were no differences among the three groups ( p = 0.834). Conclusion: Polypharmacy was more common in older RRMS patients with high BMI.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Boziki ◽  
Christos Bakirtzis ◽  
Virginia Giantzi ◽  
Styliani-Aggeliki Sintila ◽  
Stylianos Kallivoulos ◽  
...  

Background: Natalizumab (NTZ) and fingolimod (FTY) are second-line disease modifying treatments (DMTs) approved for Relapsing – Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Few studies are available on a direct comparison between NTZ and FTY, based on post-marketing experience, with conflicting results and reporting relatively short follow-up period.Aim: We hereby report real-world experience of a MS Center with respect to NTZ vs. FTY comparison in terms of efficacy and safety, referencing long-term follow-up.Methods: We used retrospective data for all patients that received 2nd-line treatment NTZ (since May 2007) or FTY (since September 2011). Primary endpoints were, among others, annual EDSS score (mean change from baseline), time to disability worsening or improvement, Annualized Relapse Rate (ARR) after 12 and 24 months and upon total treatment duration, time to first relapse and time to radiological progression.Results: A total of 138 unmatched patients, 84 treated with NTZ and 54 treated with FTY were included. Following Propensity Score (PS) matching, 31 patients in each group were retained. Mean follow-up period for NTZ- and FTY-treated patients was 4.43 ± 0.29 and 3.59 ± 0.32 years (p = 0.057), respectively. In the matched analysis, time to disability improvement and time to disability worsening was comparable between groups. A higher proportion of patients remained free of relapse under NTZ, compared to FTY (Log Rank test p = 0.021, HR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08–0.8), as well as free of MRI activity (Log Rank test p = 0.006, HR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08–0.6). Treatment discontinuation due to MRI activity was significantly higher for FTY-treated patients compared to NTZ (Log Rank test p = 0.019, HR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05–0.76).Conclusion: Our results indicate toward NTZ superiority with respect to relapse and MRI activity outcomes. The fact that NTZ-treated patients may achieve long-standing clinical and radiological remission points toward the need for long follow-up data.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 701-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Mastorodemos ◽  
H. Nikolakaki ◽  
M. Tzagournissakis ◽  
D. Kotzamani ◽  
T. Panou ◽  
...  

Our objective was to study multiple sclerosis on Crete, an island of 0.6 million inhabitants sharing a similar genetic background and the same environment. Case ascertainment was achieved using the MS Epidemiology Program Project of Crete. The diagnosis and classification of multiple sclerosis were made by established clinical and magnetic resonance imaging criteria, and disease evolution was assessed by periodic evaluations. Thorough clinical and laboratory evaluations were conducted; a detailed history, including a questionnaire of 36 items, was taken. Data obtained were analysed for possible interaction with disease prognosis. We identified 587 cases of multiple sclerosis (F:M = 1.6), >90% of which were of Cretan origin from both parental lines. Age at onset was 31.5 ± 10.3 years (mean ± SD) and disease duration 12.7 ± 9.1 years. About 84.6% had relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, 9.4% primary progressive multiple sclerosis and 6% clinically isolated syndrome. Nearly 40% of our multiple sclerosis patients with disease duration >10 years (mean = 16.2 ± 5.3 years) remained with no or mild disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] ≤3). Also, about 30% of patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis showed benign disease evolution (EDSS ≤3) more than 20 years (mean = 24.0 ± 3.3) after onset. Factors predisposing to benign multiple sclerosis included younger age at onset, shorter disease duration and a lower number of relapses. We conclude that a substantial proportion of patients with multiple sclerosis from Crete follow a rather benign disease course, and this may relate to the genetic background of the population and/or to environmental factors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. A23.3-A24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Walker ◽  
Mark Schulz ◽  
Birendra Arora ◽  
Eric Chung ◽  
Prabhjot Juneja ◽  
...  

IntroductionThis study aimed to examine and compare patient persistence of fingolimod to all reimbursed disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in Australia.MethodThe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 10% sample supplied by the Department of Human Services was used in this study. Eligible patients must have received a script for a reimbursed DMT for RRMS between September 2011 and February 2016. Patient demographics were summarised using mean and standard deviation or frequency percentage. Persistence was defined as a patient that remained on a DMT with a gap in scripts of no longer than 4 months. Individual patients could be included multiple times if they initiated a new DMT during the study period. Persistence was derived using the Kaplan-Meier method and hazard ratios (HR). Persistence to individual treatments was then compared to the average persistence observed across all treatments; p-values were based on the log-rank test.Results720 unique patients were eligible for the study, contributing 1827 observations that for analysis (2.5 new initiations/patient). Overall the median persistence (MP) to therapy was 29.6 months with 67.7% of patients remaining on therapy for 12 months. The only DMT with significantly better persistence compared to the overall average was fingolimod (HR 0.65 (95%CI 0.57–0.73; p<0.001). Patients had an MP of 60 months on fingolimod with 79.5% of patients persistent at 12 months. Patients were significantly less persistent to interferon Beta-1a, interferon Beta-1b, glatiramer acetate and dimethyl fumarate (hazard ratios above 1.27 (p values all≤0.001) whilst the remaining DMTs, teriflunomide and natalizumab, showed no significant difference from the average persistence.ConclusionIn this analysis of PBS sample data, patients were most persistent to fingolimod treatment amongst all DMTs.


Author(s):  
Gabriel Pádua da Silva ◽  
Marcelo Palinkas ◽  
Robson F. Tosta Lopes ◽  
Saulo C. Vallin Fabrin ◽  
Bruno Ferreira ◽  
...  

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