Adherence to disease-modifying therapies in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory progressive demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. MS is one of the main causes of disability among young adults, and its management is a serious challenge for the healthcare system.PurposeThe main purpose of this study was to examine adherence to first-line disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in MS patients using the self-report Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (MS-TAQ).Materials and methodsThe participants consisted of 226 MS patients (166 women and 60 men) who were treated with first-line immunomodulatory DMT. This study used a questionnaire designed by the authors, which contained questions about sociodemographic data, and the Polish version of the MS-TAQ.ResultsThe overall adherence was 76.5% according to the first criterion (missed ≥1 injection or tablet). There were no statistically significant differences due to sociodemographic variables between adherent and nonadherent patients. However, patients taking Avonex® significantly more often belonged to the adherent group (P=0.042). The most frequently mentioned reasons why nonadherent patients forget to take the drug included the following: too busy in their daily activities, indisposition to take the drug, unwillingness to take the drug, interference with daily activities, and dissatisfaction with the drug. The degree of adherence among MS patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs is high; however, some patients do not take medications regularly.ConclusionDue to the utility of the MS-TAQ, the caregivers of MS patients are able to quickly and easily assess the occurrence of side effects, ways to cope with them, and the occurrence of barriers to taking medication.

The Levels of Depression, Anxiety, Acceptance of Illness, and Medication Adherence in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis - Descriptive and Correlational Study

“…(Gilenya, which is taken orally once a day), natalizumab (Tysabri, which is injected intravenous once a once every four weeks), alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, which is injected intravenously just once a day for 5 days but which then repeats this routine each year thereafter), and mitoxantrone (Novantrone, which is injected intravenously) [4,5].…”

“…Currently, the first-line drugs for MS include interferon beta-1a (Avonex, which is injected intramuscularly once a week, and Rebif, which is injected subcutaneously three times a week), interferon beta1b (Betaferon and Extavia, which are injected subcutaneously every other day), glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, which is injected subcutaneously every day or three times a week), dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera, which is taken orally twice a day), and teriflunomide (Aubagio, which is taken orally once a day). The second-line drugs include fingolimod (Gilenya, which is taken orally once a day), natalizumab (Tysabri, which is injected intravenous once a once every four weeks), alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, which is injected intravenously just once a day for 5 days but which then repeats this routine each year thereafter), and mitoxantrone (Novantrone, which is injected intravenously) 4 , 5 .…”

Adherence to Therapeutic Recommendations in Patients Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis

“…Until 2017, no study evaluating the degree of compliance with therapeutic recommendations in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with immunomodulation was conducted and published in Poland. Kołtuniuk and Rosińczuk [5] undertook such a task and conducted a study in four centres in Wrocław. The results of their research show that 76.5% of the studied patients comply with the therapeutic recommendations, which is also confirmed in the results of my work and the results of other researchers.…”

“…In Poland, only one study has been conducted and published so far, which examined the degree of compliance with therapeutic recommendations in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with first-line injectable immunomodulating drugs, without assessing oral drugs and second-line drugs [5]. Therefore, our own research was to answer the question of what is the level of compliance with therapeutic recommendations among patients from multiple sclerosis treated with drugs modifying the course of the first and second line disease.…”

The potential therapeutic effect of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on cuprizone model of multiple sclerosis in the mice

“…However, several studies have suggested that development of MS is influenced by genetic, environmental, and infectious agents [4] . To date, no curative treatment exists for patients with MS. Disease-modifying therapies are used nowadays only to reduce the progression of the disease and ameliorate the patient lifestyle [5] .…”