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Table 2 Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of MS patients with benign MS according to classification Criterion Ia (EDSS ≤2 and DD ≥10 years) vs. non-benign MS patients

From: Factors associated with benign multiple sclerosis in the New York State MS Consortium (NYSMSC)

Variable

BMS (EDSS ≤2, DD ≥10)a

Non-BMS

p-value*

All Patients, n (%)b

1237 (19.8)

5021 (80.2)

<0.0001

Female, n (%)

985 (79.6)

3590 (71.4)

<0.0001

Race, n, (%)

 Caucasian/Hispanic-American

 African-American

 Other

1170 (94.6)

47 (3.8)

20 (1.6)

4617 (91.9)

329 (6.6)

75 (1.5)

<0.0001

Family history, n, (%)

241 (19.5)

976 (19.4)

NS

Age at onset, y, mean (SD)

30.2 (8.5)

32.2 (9.7)

<0.0001

Age at baseline, y, mean (SD)

47.8 (9.0)

51.8 (10.5)

<0.0001

EDSS, mean (SD)

1.4 (0.6)

4.4 (1.6)

<0.0001

EDSS, median (range)

1.5 (0–2.0)

5.0 (0–9.5)

<0.0001

Disease duration, y, mean (SD)c

17.0 (6.7)

18.3 (7.5)

<0.0001

Disease course,(n)%d

 Relapsing-remitting

 Secondary-progressive

 Progressive-relapsing

 Primary-progressive

1184 (95.6)

33 (2.7)

7 (0.6)

13 (1.1)

2692 (53.6)

1622 (32.3)

219 (4.4)

488 (9.7)

<0.0001

DMT at enrollment, n (%)e

505 (40.8)

2182 (81.2)

p < 0.0001

Type of DMT, n (%)

 Interferon beta-1a IM

 Interferon beta-1b SC

 Interferon beta-1a SC

 Glatiramer acetate

 Methotrexate

 Myelin (oral)

 Mitoxantrone

 Azathioprine

 Cyclophosphamide

 Immunoglobulin (intravenous)

 Linomide

 T-cell vaccine

314 (62.2)

98 (19.4)

1 (0.2)

64 (12.7)

8 (1.6)

13 (2.6)

0 (0.0)

3 (0.6)

1 (0.2)

2 (0.4)

1 (0.2)

0 (0.0)

1063 (48.7)

466 (21.4)

16 (0.7)

306 (14.0)

206 (9.4)

19 (0.9)

20 (0.9)

39 (1.8)

23 (1.1)

4 (0.2)

19 (0.8)

1 (<0.1)

 
  1. Abbreviations: MS multiple sclerosis, BMS benign MS, DMT disease-modifying therapy, EDSS Expanded Disability Status Scale, IM intramuscular, NS not significant, SC subcutaneous, SD standard deviation
  2. *Between-group comparisons were performed using chi-square, t-tests, or Mann–Whitney U tests as appropriate
  3. aMost conservative classification criteria definition
  4. bDenominators: Benign MS (n = 1237); Other MS (n = 5021)
  5. cDD, disease duration (years from symptom onset to enrollment)
  6. dAt time of baseline enrollment, only 53 progressive patients (SP, PR, and PP) out of the entire cohort of 6,258 (<1 %) met classification Criterion Ia (EDSS ≤2 and DD ≥10 years) for benign MS. Removing these patients from the analysis made no difference in statistical significance of results, nor did considering them non-benign due to their status as progressive patients
  7. eDMT at enrollment, n = 2687 (42.9 %) of total cohort (n = 6258) (benign MS on DMT, n = 505; other MS on DMT n = 2182)
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BMC Neurology

ISSN: 1471-2377

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