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Table 2 MS Comorbidities and Pharmacologic Treatments of Interest During the Post-Index Period

From: Disease-modifying drug initiation patterns in commercially insured multiple sclerosis patients: a retrospective cohort study

Comorbidity*

DMD-treated

(n = 4,462)

Not DMD treated

(n = 6,599)

p-value

Joint derangement, dorsopathies, polymyalgia rheumatica

52.7%

57.1%

<0.001

High blood pressure

30.5%

40.7%

<0.001

High cholesterol

23.2%

28.6%

<0.001

Cancers excluding skin cancer

22.2%

28.2%

<0.001

Fatigue

25.1%

24.1%

0.231

Urinary tract infections

21.6%

25.9%

<0.001

Headache

22.0%

21.9%

0.897

Neuropathic pain

19.6%

22.7%

<0.001

Depression

21.0%

18.6%

0.002

Anxiety

18.3%

19.8%

0.049

Arthritis (RA & OA)

12.6%

21.4%

<0.001

Skin cancers

13.8%

14.9%

0.107

Thyroid disease

12.2%

15.1%

<0.001

Diabetes

8.8%

14.8%

<0.001

Sleep disorders

11.5%

11.0%

0.469

Index DMD**

   

   Glatiramer acetate

33.7%

  

   Interferon beta-1a IM

32.1%

  

   Interferon beta-1a SQ

20.5%

  

   Interferon beta-1b

12.7%

  

   Mitoxantrone

0.6%

  

   Natalizumab

0.4%

  

Other medications used for treating MS exacerbations

   

   Corticosteroids

61.4%

40.0%

<0.001

   Methotrexate

1.4%

2.0%

0.020

   Azathioprine

1.3%

1.0%

0.165

   Cyclosporine

1.2%

1.4%

0.336

   Mycophenolate

1.1%

0.7%

0.027

   IVIG

1.3%

0.6%

<0.001

   Cyclophosphamide

0.6%

0.5%

0.416

Muscle relaxants

37.6%

33.6%

<0.001

Antidepressants

37.9%

30.4%

<0.001

Anti-fatigue agents

32.7%

12.5%

<0.001

  1. *ICD-9-CM codes used for these conditions are available on request.
  2. **First DMD on or after the patient's index date.