Table 1.
Clinic-demographic characteristics of the patients at baseline (2nd-line treatment initiation)
| Variable | FIN (n = 184) | NTZ (n = 130) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years, mean ± SD | 37.8±7.8 | 38.4±7.7 | 0.4421 |
| Gender, female, n (%) | 130 (70.6) | 88 (67.7) | 0.5750 |
| Time since first MS symptom until RRMS diagnosis, months, mean ± SD | 22.2±33.3 | 19.0±26.7 | 0.4623 |
| Time since RRMS diagnosis until 2nd-line treatment, years, mean ± SD | 7.06±5.56 | 7.01±5.17 | 0.8110 |
| Time since RRMS diagnosis until the last relapse prior to the 2nd-line treatment, years, mean ± SD | 6.67±5.55 | 6.67±5.17 | 0.7305 |
| No. of relapses within the year prior to the 2nd-line treatment, mean ± SD | 1.64±0.91 | 1.56±0.77 | 0.4898 |
| No. of disease modifying therapies prior to the 2nd-line treatment, mean ± SD | 1.47±0.66 | 1.42±0.64 | 0.4124 |
| Patients with comorbidities at the time of 2nd-line treatment initiation, n (%) | 42 (22.8) | 32 (24.6) | 0.7224 |
| ARR in previous year, mean ± SD | 1.67±0.98 | 1.71±1.37 | 0.7129 |
| EDSS, mean ± SD | 2.65±1.42 | 3.08±1.56 | 0.0147 |
| No. of T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions, mean ± SD1 | 1.45±3.30 | 1.37±2.20 | 0.4574 |
| No. of patients with2, n (%) | |||
| <9 T2 lesions | 1 (0.8) | 2 (1.8) | 0.3471 |
| 9–20 T2 lesions | 55 (44.0) | 58 (52.7) | |
| >20 T2 lesions | 68 (54.4) | 48 (43.6) | |
| Not available | 1 (0.8) | 2 (1.8) |
1
Only in patients with MRI available. For this variable, no. of evaluable patients = 121 for FIN group and n = 106 for NTZ group.
2
Only in patients with MRI available. For this variable, no. of evaluable patients = 125 for FIN group and n = 110 for NTZ group.
FIN, fingolimod; NTZ, natalizumab; SD, standard deviation; MS, multiple sclerosis; RRMS, relapsing-remitting MS; ARR, annualized relapse rate; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale.