Table 7.
Comparison of use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) by Slifka study participants at the time of their interviews in 2000 and 2009.a
| Rates of use, %b |
Change in percentage points | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | 2000c | 2009 | |
| Sample | 55.3 (1193/2156) | 61.5 (1451/2361) | +6.2 |
| Course | |||
| Relapsing-remitting MS | 63.5 (834/1314) | 68.7 (1048/1525) | +5.2 |
| Secondary progressive MSd | 47.2 (220/466) | 51.5 (272/528) | +4.3 |
| Primary progressive MSe | 36.4 (90/247) | 34.3 (69/201) | –2.1 |
| Progressive-relapsing MS | 42.7 (38/89) | 62.2 (51/82) | +19.5 |
| Duration since diagnosis, years | |||
| <5 | 75.5 (627/830) | 75.7 (340/449) | +0.2 |
| 6–15 | 50.6 (408/807) | 71.3 (669/938) | +20.7 |
| >16 | 30.4 (158/519) | 45.3 (441/973) | +14.9 |
| Disability status f | |||
| No MS symptoms | NA | 55.0 (133/242) | NA |
| Mild MS symptoms with no limitations on activity on lifestyle | 58.6 (259/442) | 67.2 (248/369) | +8.6 |
| Non-ambulatory symptoms | 60.9 (349/573) | 71.6 (399/557) | +10.7 |
| Trouble walking but no aid used | 58.4 (136/233) | 67.2 (129/192) | +8.8 |
| Can walk 25 feet without a cane | 61.9 (122/197) | 65.0 (152/234) | +3.1 |
| Cannot walk 25 feet without a cane | 55.0 (169/307) | 60.6 (175/289) | +5.6 |
| Cannot walk 25 feet without bilateral support | 49.6 (61/123) | 58.5 (110/188) | +8.9 |
| Requires wheelchair or scooter | 34.8 (94/270) | 35.8 (101/282) | +1.0 |
| Completely bedridden | 0.0 (0/7) | 50.0 (4/8) | +50.0 |
| Age, years | |||
| 18–54 | 63.6 (959/1509) | 70.8 (837/1183) | +7.2 |
| >54 | 36.3 (234/644) | 52.1 (612/1175) | +15.8 |
a2000 analyses: DMTs include interferon beta-1a (Avonex®), interferon beta-1b (Betaseron®), glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®). 2009 analyses: DMTs include the above plus interferon beta-1a (Rebif®), natalizumab (Tysabri®). Denominators do not exclude two subjects with missing data (as in Table 2).
bUnweighted percentage of users in sample or subgroup (number of users/number in sample or subgroup). Numerators are the number of users at time of interview (not over recall period as in Table 2).
cSource: Minden et al.19
dOf the 528 patients in 2009 who reported a course of secondary progressive MS, 333 (63.1%) reported zero relapses and 195 (36.9%) reported one or more relapses in the preceding year.
eOf the 201 patients in 2009 who reported a course of primary progressive MS, 39 (19.4%) reported one or more relapses in the preceding year.
fSource: 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.
NA: category not included in 2000 interview.