Table 1 Baseline patient demographics, disease characteristics, and DMT history
Characteristics | LA (n = 263) | CWE (n = 248) | EE (n = 157) |
|---|---|---|---|
Female gender, n (%) | 189 (71.9) | 175 (70.6) | 108 (68.8) |
Mean age, years (± SD) | 40.1 (10.1) | 43.0 (10.2) | 34.7 (8.4) |
Patients with comorbidities at recruitment, n (%) | 27 (10.3) | 19 (7.7) | 8 (5.1) |
Depression | 13 (4.9) | 6 (2.4) | 1 (0.6) |
Anxiety | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.4) | 1 (0.6) |
Hypertension | 1 (0.4) | 4 (1.6) | 2 (1.3) |
Patients with concomitant therapies at time of recruitment, n (%) | 24 (9.1) | 15 (6.1) | 7 (4.5) |
Psychoanaleptics | 14 (5.3) | 5 (2.0) | 1 (0.6) |
Antiepileptics | 6 (2.3) | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.6) |
Thyroid therapy | 3 (1.1) | 3 (1.2) | N/A |
Mean disease duration since onset, months (± SD)a | 98.0 (82.9) | 100.1 (84.4) | 92.3 (63.9) |
Mean disease duration since diagnosis, months (± SD)b | 68.9 (59.6) | 72.1 (70.7) | 67.9 (48.5) |
Mean ARR, events/year (± SD)c | 1.0 (0.8) | 0.8 (0.6) | 0.7 (0.5) |
Patients in ARR range, n (%*) | |||
0.00–1.25 | 166 (67.5) | 193 (84.6) | 130 (88.4) |
1.25–3.25 | 78 (31.7) | 35 (15.4) | 17 (11.6) |
>3.25 | 2 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Data unavailable | 17 | 20 | 10 |
Clinical type of MS, n (%d) | |||
RRMS with incomplete remissions | 171 (67.6) | 117 (47.6) | 91 (59.1) |
RRMS with complete remission | 80 (31.6) | 122 (49.6) | 62 (40.3) |
Clinically isolated syndrome | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.6) |
Other | 2 (0.8) | 7 (2.8) | 0 (0.0) |
Data unavailable | 10 | 2 | 3 |
Diagnosed with MS by criteria, n (%d) | |||
McDonald | 217 (83.8) | 194 (78.5) | 143 (92.3) |
Poser | 42 (16.2) | 53 (21.5) | 12 (7.7) |
Data unavailable | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Mobility, n (%d) | |||
Asymptomatic | 45 (19.8) | 46 (20.0) | 20 (14.9) |
Able to walk unaided for >500 m | 96 (42.3) | 126 (54.8) | 112 (83.6) |
Able to walk unaided for <500 m | 30 (13.2) | 27 (11.7) | 2 (1.5) |
Walking with bilateral support | 13 (5.7) | 9 (3.9) | 0 (0.0) |
Walking with unilateral support | 33 (14.5) | 18 (7.8) | 0 (0.0) |
Need of a wheelchair outdoors | 10 (4.4) | 4 (1.7) | 0 (0.0) |
Data unavailable | 36 | 18 | 23 |
Mean EDSS score (± SD)e | 3.5 (2.2) | 2.8 (1.9) | 2.6 (1.0) |
Mean CES-D score (0–60) (± SD)f | 16.0 (11.7) | 16.0 (10.3) | 20.6 (19.5) |
Mean MFIS score (0–84) (± SD)g | 32.3 (19.7) | 31.4 (19.1) | 33.7 (27.9) |
Mean FAMS score (0–176) (± SD)h | 109.4 (37.8) | 100.8 (34.3) | 77.7 (59.4) |
Mean PASAT score (0–60) (± SD)i | 35.6 (13.6) | 36.7 (15.7) | 51.8 (5.9) |
Mean observation duration, months (± SD)j | 20.5 (6.3) | 18.6 (7.7) | 19.2 (7.8) |
Number of DMT classes used (%) (converters only) | |||
1 | 206 (85.5) | 201 (83.4) | 143 (92.9) |
2 | 32 (13.3) | 38 (15.8) | 10 (6.5) |
3 | 3 (1.2) | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.6) |
Non-converters | 22 | 7 | 3 |
Previous type and mode of IFN-β used, %k | |||
IFN-β-1a (i.m.) | 30.3 | 36.0 | 47.4 |
IFN-β-1b (s.c.) | 30.3 | 25.9 | 30.5 |
IFN-β-1a (s.c.) | 35.5 | 30.7 | 21.4 |
Reason for conversion to GA, n (%)l | |||
Lack of previous DMT efficacy | 171 (71.0) | 78 (32.4) | 92 (59.7) |
Presence of neutralizing antibodies | 1 (0.4) | 44 (18.3) | 2 (1.3) |
Intolerable adverse events associated with previous DMT | 98 (40.7) | 132 (54.8) | 55 (35.7) |
Flu–like symptoms | 67 (27.8) | 73 (30.3) | 40 (26.0) |
Subjective | 29 (12.0) | 37 (15.4) | 17 (11.0) |
Skin reactions | 15 (6.2) | 14 (5.8) | 20 (13.0) |
Blood work | 7 (2.9) | 18 (7.5) | 4 (2.6) |
Others | 21 (8.7) | 39 (16.2) | 4 (2.6) |
Not specified | 1 (0.4) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) |
Other | 8 (3.3) | 21 (8.7) | 36 (23.4) |
Non-converters | 22 | 7 | 3 |
Discontinuation of GA, n (%) | 66 (25.1) | 77 (31.1) | 30 (19.1) |
Perceived lack of efficacy by physician | 19 (7.2) | 7 (2.8) | 16 (10.2) |
Perceived lack of efficacy by patient | 7 (2.7) | 14 (5.7) | 6 (3.8) |
Adverse events | 9 (3.4) | 17 (6.9) | 4 (2.5) |
Lost to follow-up | 14 (5.3) | 24 (9.7) | 2 (1.3) |
Other | 15 (5.7) | 8 (3.2) | 3 (1.9) |