Table 3.
Descriptive Statistics of Demographic and Clinical Variables of the SMSC Patients at Baseline
| Variables | SMSC, n = 246 | SMSC Starters, n = 212 | SMSC Nonstarters, n = 34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yr | 42.2 (33.6–51.4) | 40.6 (32.8–48.8) | 54.5 (49.2–60.9) |
| Gender | |||
| F | 162 (65.9%) | 151 (71.2%) | 11 (32.4%) |
| M | 84 (34.1%) | 61 (28.8%) | 23 (67.6%) |
| Diagnosis at baseline | |||
| CIS | 14 (5.7%) | 14 (6.6%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| RRMS | 185 (75.2%) | 185 (87.3%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| SPMS | 27 (11.0%) | 11 (5.2%) | 16 (47.1%) |
| PPMS | 20 (8.1%) | 2 (0.9%) | 18 (52.9%) |
| Disease duration, yr | 7.4 (1.8–15.3) | 6.6 (1.6–14.3) | 15.3 (7.9–23.7) |
| EDSS | 3.0 (1.5–4.0) | 2.5 (1.5–3.5) | 4.8 (3.6–6.0) |
| DMT at baseline | |||
| Injectable DMTs | 77 (31.3%) | 73 (34.4%) | 4 (11.8%) |
| Natalizumab | 22 (8.9%) | 22 (10.4%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Fingolimod | 9 (3.7%) | 9 (4.2%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Azathioprine | 4 (1.6%) | 4 (1.9%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Mitoxantrone | 6 (2.4%) | 3 (1.4%) | 3 (8.8%) |
| Dimethyl fumarate | 2 (0.8%) | 2 (0.9%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Rituximab | 1 (0.4%) | 1 (0.5%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Other | 4 (1.6%) | 0 (0.0%) | 4 (11.8%) |
| Untreated | 121 (49.2%) | 98 (46.2%) | 23 (67.6%) |
| Switch after baseline to | |||
| Fingolimod | — | 136 (64.2%) | — |
| Injectable DMTs | — | 39 (18.4%) | — |
| Natalizumab | — | 21 (9.9%) | — |
| Rituximab | — | 16 (7.5%) | — |
| Baseline to first follow‐up, days | 224.0 (188.0–368.0) | 217.0 (183.5–365.0) | 363.5 (335.2–377.2) |
| Baseline to second follow‐up, days | 540.0 (386.0–725.5) | 511.0 (383.5–700.8) | 731.0 (664.5–753.0) |
| Baseline to new DMT start, days | — | 41.0 (5.0–93.8) | — |
Values are median (interquartile range) or count (percentage). SMSC Starters = patients starting or switching to a new DMT after baseline sampling. SMSC Nonstarters = progressive multiple sclerosis patients who were either untreated or had not changed DMT.
CIS = clinically isolated syndrome; DMT = disease‐modifying treatment; EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Scale; F = female; M = male; PPMS = primary progressive multiple sclerosis; RRMS = relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis; SMSC = Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Cohort Study; SPMS = secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.