Health-related quality of life in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients during treatment with glatiramer acetate: a prospective, observational, international, multi-centre study

Abstract

BackgroundGlatiramer acetate (GA) and interferon-beta (INFb) are first-line disease modifying drugs for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Treatment with INFb is associated with a significant increase in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in the first 12 months. It is not known whether HR-QoL increases during treatment with GA.Methods197 RRMS patients, 106 without and 91 with prior immunomodulation/immunosuppression, were studied for HR-QoL (Leeds Multiple Sclerosis-QoL [LMS-QoL] scale, score range 0 - 32), fatigue (Fatigue Impact Scale [FIS]) and depressed mood (Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form [BDI-SF]) at baseline and 6 and 12 months after start of GA treatment.ResultsAt 6 and 12 months mean LMS-QoL scores were significantly increased in the treatment-naive patient group (p < 0.001), not in the pre-treated group. At month 12 43% of treatment-naïve patients had improved HR-QoL (increase LMS-QoL score 3 or more points) (p < 0.001). Likewise, mean FIS scores were decreased at months 6 and 12 in the treatment-naïve group (p < 0.01), not in the pre-treated group. In both groups mean BDI-SF scores did not change. No demographic or clinical baseline factor was predictive of HR-QoL increase. HR-QoL changes were zero to negative for patients who had discontinued GA before month 12 (28.4% of patients).ConclusionsIn RRMS patients without prior immunomodulation/immunosuppression treatment with GA was associated with an increase in HR-QoL in the first 6 months, that was sustained at 12 months. In 4 out of 10 patients HR-QoL improved. Increase in HR-QoL was associated with decrease in fatigue.

Development and Effectiveness of a Psychoeducational Wellness Program for People with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Finally, as this pilot study was not a randomized controlled trial, the control group did not have a "placebo" intervention throughout the course of 10 weeks that would equate the amount of "attention" given the two groups, raising the question of whether participation in the treatment group alone can account for the results. and aerobic exercise, [30][31][32][33] as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy, 34 can reduce fatigue in MS. These interventions were not part of the psychoeducational wellness program described in this study.…”

The heritage of glatiramer acetate and its use in multiple sclerosis

“…A significant impact of the treatment with GA on health-related quality of life has also been reported [77,78], with beneficial effects including significant reductions in fatigue and in days of absence from work.…”

Treatment Satisfaction in Multiple Sclerosis

“…The introduction of DMTs has led to reductions in disease activity [1][2][3][4][5] and improvements in quality of life 21,22 for people with MS. We compared treatment satisfaction ratings in RRMS patients treated with IFNβ-1a IM, IFNβ-1a SC, GA, and NTZ and found no differences in overall treatment satisfaction across therapies. Participants reported that they were confident that taking the medication was a good thing for them and that they were certain that the good things about the medication outweighed the bad things.…”