Table 1.
Baseline characteristics.
| Variable | Total cohort | |
|---|---|---|
| N | Value | |
| Age (years) | 883 | 35.7 ± 9.2 |
| Range | 16–63 | |
| Sex, Female, % | 632 | 71.6 |
| Male, % | 251 | 28.4 |
| Multiple sclerosis characteristics | ||
| Time (years) since first MS symptoms until inclusion into study | 668 | 8.0 ± 6.8 |
| Time (years) since MS diagnosis until inclusion into study | 793 | 7.2 ± 6.3 |
| RRMS, % | 823 | 95.4 |
| Relapses during last 12 months before inclusion into study, % | ||
| 0 | 127 | 16.3 |
| 1 | 295 | 37.8 |
| 2 | 221 | 28.3 |
| 3 | 87 | 11.1 |
| Missing | 102 | |
| Mean ± SD | 781 | 1.6 ± 1.2 |
| Relapses during last 24 months before inclusion into study, % | ||
| 0 | 89 | 12.7 |
| 1 | 187 | 26.6 |
| 2 | 182 | 25.9 |
| 3 | 128 | 18.2 |
| Missing | 181 | |
| Mean ± SD | 702 | 2.2 ± 1.8 |
| Magnetic resonance imaging | ||
| Contrast medium enhancing lesions present at 1st pretreatment visit, % | 397 | 54.7 |
| Gd+ lesions | ||
| 0 | 226 | 31.4 |
| 1 | 69 | 9.6 |
| 2 | 56 | 7.8 |
| 3+ | 96 | 13.3 |
| T2 lesions | ||
| 0 | 38 | 4.8 |
| 1 | 16 | 2.0 |
| 2 | 10 | 1.3 |
| 3+ | 174 | 21.8 |
| EDSS total | 798 | 2.7 ± 1.8 |
| ≤ 3 | 504 | 63.2 |
| >3 | 294 | 36.8 |
EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale, RRMS, relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis.
Values are percentages or means ± standard deviation (SD).