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
| 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) |
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
*Between-group comparisons were performed using chi-square, t-tests, or Mann–Whitney U tests as appropriate
aMost conservative classification criteria definition
bDenominators: Benign MS (n = 1237); Other MS (n = 5021)
cDD, disease duration (years from symptom onset to enrollment)
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
eDMT at enrollment, n = 2687 (42.9 %) of total cohort (n = 6258) (benign MS on DMT, n = 505; other MS on DMT n = 2182)