Table 1. Characteristics of Individuals With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in Sweden at Treatment Start in 2011 Through 2017 and Matched General Population Comparator Participants.
| Characteristic | Treatment Group, No. (%) | General Population (n = 42 645) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interferon Beta/ Glatiramer Acetate (n = 2217) | Fingolimod (n = 1535) | Natalizumab (n = 1588) | Rituximab (n = 3260) | ||
| Start year, median (IQR) | 2013 (2012-2014) | 2013 (2012-2015) | 2014 (2012-2015) | 2016 (2014-2017) | 2014 (2012-2016) |
| Demographic characteristics | |||||
| Age, mean (SD), y | 40.1 (11.3) | 38.8 (9.6) | 35.0 (10.1) | 40.4 (10.6) | 39.0 (10.7) |
| Female | 1631 (73.6) | 1045 (68.1) | 1152 (72.5) | 2358 (72.3) | 30 686 (72.0) |
| Country of birth | |||||
| Nordic | 2004 (90.4) | 1360 (88.7) | 1417 (89.2) | 2894 (88.8) | 35 615 (83.5) |
| Other | 213 (9.6) | 174 (11.3) | 171 (10.8) | 365 (11.2) | 7022 (16.5) |
| Educational level, y | |||||
| ≤9 | 248 (11.3) | 135 (8.9) | 167 (10.7) | 292 (9.1) | 4550 (10.9) |
| 10-12 | 973 (44.2) | 695 (45.6) | 716 (45.9) | 1475 (45.8) | 18 618 (44.6) |
| >12 | 979 (44.5) | 694 (45.5) | 678 (43.4) | 1454 (45.1) | 18 570 (44.5) |
| Any sick leave last year | 486 (22.9) | 462 (31.8) | 425 (29.5) | 701 (29.7) | 3958 (11.0) |
| Any disability pension last year | 259 (12.2) | 306 (21.1) | 166 (11.5) | 524 (22.2) | 1606 (4.5) |
| Medical history in previous 5 y | |||||
| Days hospitalized | |||||
| None | 993 (44.8) | 623 (40.6) | 571 (36.0) | 1353 (41.5) | 27 798 (65.2) |
| 1-10 | 909 (41.0) | 628 (40.9) | 689 (43.4) | 1355 (41.6) | 11 003 (25.8) |
| >10 | 315 (14.2) | 284 (18.5) | 328 (20.7) | 552 (16.9) | 3844 (9.0) |
| Any hospitalized infection | 79 (3.6) | 65 (4.2) | 61 (3.8) | 149 (4.6) | 994 (2.3) |
| Any systemic antibiotic drug | 1452 (65.5) | 1035 (67.4) | 1031 (64.9) | 2142 (65.7) | 24 445 (57.3) |
| Hospitalized cases of herpes | 2 (0.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (0.2) | 11 (0.0) |
| Herpes antiviral drug use | 120 (5.4) | 98 (6.4) | 102 (6.4) | 271 (8.3) | 1991 (4.7) |
| Malignant conditions | 25 (1.2) | 14 (1.0) | 11 (0.8) | 23 (1.0) | 369 (1.0) |
| Malignant conditions more than 5 y ago | 40 (1.8) | 19 (1.2) | 16 (1.0) | 42 (1.3) | 534 (1.3) |
| Antidepressant use | 503 (22.7) | 424 (27.6) | 411 (25.9) | 967 (29.7) | 6682 (15.7) |
| Antipsychotic use | 37 (1.7) | 21 (1.4) | 34 (2.1) | 92 (2.8) | 871 (2.0) |
| Major adverse cardiovascular event | 33 (1.5) | 7 (0.5) | 13 (0.8) | 29 (0.9) | 195 (0.5) |
| Arrhythmia | 22 (1.0) | 28 (1.8) | 16 (1.0) | 49 (1.5) | 410 (1.0) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 60 (2.7) | 22 (1.4) | 41 (2.6) | 90 (2.8) | 929 (2.2) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 4 (0.2) | 3 (0.2) | 2 (0.1) | 4 (0.1) | 84 (0.2) |
| MS-associated characteristics | |||||
| Previous use of disease-modifying therapies | |||||
| None | 2090 (94.3) | 193 (12.6) | 501 (31.5) | 771 (23.7) | NA |
| 1-2 | 125 (5.6) | 1268 (82.6) | 1064 (67.0) | 2074 (63.6) | NA |
| ≥3 | 2 (0.1) | 74 (4.8) | 23 (1.4) | 415 (12.7) | NA |
| MS duration, mean (SD), y | 6.2 (7.4) | 8.8 (6.6) | 5.8 (6.2) | 8.7 (7.6) | NA |
| Any relapse last year | 789 (35.6) | 429 (27.9) | 778 (49.0) | 909 (27.9) | NA |
| Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale–29 physical, mean (SD) | 1.6 (0.7) | 1.8 (0.8) | 2.0 (0.9) | 1.9 (0.8) | NA |
| Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale–29 psychological, mean (SD) | 2.1 (0.9) | 2.2 (1.0) | 2.5 (1.0) | 2.3 (1.0) | NA |
| Expanded Disability Status Scale, mean (SD) | 1.6 (1.3) | 2.1 (1.5) | 2.3 (1.5) | 2.1 (1.5) | NA |
| EuroQol-5D, mean (SD) | 0.8 (0.2) | 0.7 (0.2) | 0.7 (0.3) | 0.7 (0.3) | NA |
| Symbol Digit Modalities Test score, mean (SD) | 53.4 (11.4) | 54.3 (14.4) | 51.2 (12.6) | 53.3 (13.6) | NA |
Abbreviation: IQR, interquartile range; MS, multiple sclerosis.