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Noncompliance With Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Appears Treatment Related, Affects Quality of Life: Presented at ECTRIMS By Bruce Sylvester THESSALONIKI, GREECE -- October 3, 2005 -- Statistically significant differences in quality-of-life measures exist between compliant and noncompliant patients with multiple sclerosis, researchers reported here on September 30th at the 21st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). In addition, the researchers said, there are significant differences in compliance depending on which disease-modifying drug the patient is using. "The most important finding here is that patients who tended to be compliant with medication, in contrast to patients who were not compliant, appeared to have benefits in multiple domains of quality of life," said presenter Elliott Frohman, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and director, Multiple Sclerosis Program, and Vertigo and Eye Movement Clinics, Dallas, Texas, United States. Patients in the study were 18 years of age or older, had the relapsing form of MS, used a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for at least 6 months, and had access to the Internet. Subjects completed a Web-based survey that included the validated Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) questionnaire, the Herth Hope Index, the Beck Depression Index-Fast Screen for Medical Patients, a quantitative analysis of drug compliance, and questions related to healthcare setting, support structure, and drug factors. Subjects were surveyed 3 times -- at baseline, at 1 month, and at 2 months. The study is designed to enrol a total of 1040 subjects taking the DMTs interferon beta-1a (Avonex or Rebif), interferon beta-1b (Betaferon), and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). Dr. Frohman reported on the interim results for 755 subjects who completed the study, of whom 77% are women. Results show that 38% of participants were noncompliant with their therapy. Noncompliance rates among subjects using Avonex and Rebif were significantly lower than those receiving Copaxone or Betaferon. Reasons cited most often for missing injections were "forgot" (57%), "did not like taking" (23%), and "tired of taking injections" (17%). Noncompliant subjects also reported more problems with injection site reactions than compliant patients. There were no statistically significant differences among the DMT groups for perceived effectiveness of therapy. Compliant subjects achieved significantly higher scores on almost all critical measures of physical and emotional well-being compared with noncompliant subjects. And noncompliant subjects showed a statistically higher level of depression compared with compliant subjects. Regardless of DMT or compliance status, a positive outlook on life appeared among responders, as measured by the Herth Hope Index. "Our challenge is very specifically to identify the factors that help to advance adherence in those who are having difficulties, so they too can have the same benefits for quality of life as those patients who are fully adherent," Dr. Frohman said. The research received financial support from Biogen Idec, Inc. [Presentation title: Factors That Influence Adherence With Disease-Modifying Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis. Poster 599] E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version