Table 2.
Disease characteristics associated with use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) during recall period (September 2007 to November 2009).a
| Sampleb(n = 2359) | Any use(n = 1651)(70.0% of sample) | No use(n = 708)(30.0% of sample) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | P valuec |
| Course | <0.0001 | |||
| Relapsing-remitting | 1523 (65.3) | 1165 (76.5) | 358 (23.5) | |
| Secondary progressive | 528 (22.6) | 330 (62.5) | 198 (37.5) | |
| Primary progressive | 201 (8.6) | 84 (41.8) | 117 (58.2) | |
| Progressive-relapsing | 82 (3.5) | 60 (73.2) | 22 (26.8) | |
| Duration since diagnosis, years | <0.0001 | |||
| 1–5 | 447 (19.0) | 391 (87.5) | 56 (12.5) | |
| 6–10 | 565 (24.0) | 472 (83.5) | 93 (16.5) | |
| 11–15 | 373 (15.8) | 277 (74.3) | 96 (25.7) | |
| 16–20 | 349 (14.8) | 202 (57.9) | 147 (42.1) | |
| 20+ | 624 (26.5) | 308 (49.4) | 316 (50.6) | |
| Relapses in past year d | <0.0001 | |||
| 0 | 1440 (62.1) | 943 (65.5) | 497 (34.5) | |
| 1 | 445 (19.2) | 348 (78.2) | 97 (21.8) | |
| 2 | 312 (13.5) | 253 (81.1) | 59 (18.9) | |
| 3–4 | 93 (4.0) | 63 (67.7) | 30 (32.3) | |
| 5+ | 28 (1.2) | 17 (60.7) | 11 (39.3) | |
| Disability status e | <0.0001 | |||
| No MS symptoms | 241 (10.2) | 152 (63.1) | 89 (36.9) | |
| Mild MS symptoms with no limitations on activity or lifestyle | 369 (15.6) | 274 (74.3) | 95 (25.7) | |
| Non-ambulatory symptoms | 556 (23.6) | 437 (78.6) | 119 (21.4) | |
| Trouble walking but no aid used | 192 (8.1) | 146 (76.0) | 46 (24.0) | |
| Can walk 25 feet without a cane | 234 (9.9) | 176 (75.2) | 58 (24.8) | |
| Cannot walk 25 feet without a cane | 289 (12.3) | 206 (71.3) | 83 (28.7) | |
| Cannot walk 25 feet without bilateral support | 188 (8.0) | 127 (67.6) | 61 (32.4) | |
| Requires wheelchair or scooter | 282 (12.0) | 129 (45.7) | 153 (54.3) | |
| Completely bedridden | 8 (0.3) | 4 (50.0) | 4 (50.0) | |
aDisease characteristics reflect status at the time of interview (end of recall period). DMT use covers the entire recall period.
bStudy sample n=2361. Two participants were excluded from analyses because of missing data.
cChi-squared test. Statistically significant P<0.05.
dStandardized to a 12-month recall period.
eSource: Hohol et al.21 Based on free text responses from previous waves of Slifka study interviews, ‘no MS symptoms’ and ‘completely bedridden’ were added. ‘Non-ambulatory symptoms’ include ‘sensory abnormalities’, ‘bladder impairment’, ‘incoordination’, ‘weakness’, or ‘fatigue’ of any severity.