Paulus S Rommer1,2, Karoline Buckow3, David Ellenberger4, Tim Friede4, Dorothea Pitschnau-Michel5, Jan Fuge6, Olaf Stüve7,8,9, Uwe K Zettl1. 1. Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany. 2. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 3. Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. 4. Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. 5. German National MS Society (DMSG), Hannover, Germany. 6. MS Forschungs- und Projektentwicklungs-GmbH, Hannover, Germany. 7. Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA. 8. Neurology Section, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. 9. Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Multiple Sclerosis is the most common disease in young adults affecting the central nervous system. Disease may progress with acute attacks (relapsing MS) or continuously (progressive MS). Glucocorticosteroids are used in the treatment of acute attacks. The aim of this study was to analyse characteristics of patients with MS, and their influence on current treatment patterns of relapses with glucocorticosteroids. DESIGN: In 2001, the German National MS Society initiated the German MS-Registry. Patients with relapsing MS were included (n = 5106) from this registry. Logistic regression models were used to detect trends over time. The likelihood of administration of steroids is modelled in dependence of calendar year and in dependence to confounders in treatment conditions. The sample size allows that odds ratios can be detected with a power of 90% (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: Administration of glucocorticosteroids was influenced by EDSS (P < 0.0001), age (P < 0.0001) and disease duration (P < 0.0001). Therapy administration in an outpatient setting was more likely in patients with higher EDSS (P < 0.0001) and longer disease duration (P < 0.0001). The utilization of glucocorticosteroids increased with higher EDSS for all relapsing patients. Interestingly, all overutilization of glucocorticosteroids decreased over time and was accompanied by a steadily increased administration of emergent therapeutics. Although there are about 70% of registered patients with relapsing MS on immune-modulatory treatment, almost 60% of them received glucocorticosteroids for treatment of relapses. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment patterns with glucocorticosteroids in patients with MS are influenced mainly by EDSS and disease duration. The decline in the utilization of glucocorticosteroids is accompanied by an increase in natalizumab treatment.
BACKGROUND:Multiple Sclerosis is the most common disease in young adults affecting the central nervous system. Disease may progress with acute attacks (relapsing MS) or continuously (progressive MS). Glucocorticosteroids are used in the treatment of acute attacks. The aim of this study was to analyse characteristics of patients with MS, and their influence on current treatment patterns of relapses with glucocorticosteroids. DESIGN: In 2001, the German National MS Society initiated the German MS-Registry. Patients with relapsing MS were included (n = 5106) from this registry. Logistic regression models were used to detect trends over time. The likelihood of administration of steroids is modelled in dependence of calendar year and in dependence to confounders in treatment conditions. The sample size allows that odds ratios can be detected with a power of 90% (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: Administration of glucocorticosteroids was influenced by EDSS (P < 0.0001), age (P < 0.0001) and disease duration (P < 0.0001). Therapy administration in an outpatient setting was more likely in patients with higher EDSS (P < 0.0001) and longer disease duration (P < 0.0001). The utilization of glucocorticosteroids increased with higher EDSS for all relapsing patients. Interestingly, all overutilization of glucocorticosteroids decreased over time and was accompanied by a steadily increased administration of emergent therapeutics. Although there are about 70% of registered patients with relapsing MS on immune-modulatory treatment, almost 60% of them received glucocorticosteroids for treatment of relapses. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment patterns with glucocorticosteroids in patients with MS are influenced mainly by EDSS and disease duration. The decline in the utilization of glucocorticosteroids is accompanied by an increase in natalizumab treatment.
Authors: Stephan Blechinger; Johannes Ehler; Gabriel Bsteh; Alexander Winkelmann; Fritz Leutmezer; Stefanie Meister; Agnes Santer; Michael Hecker; Thomas Berger; Paulus Rommer; Uwe Klaus Zettl Journal: Ther Adv Neurol Disord Date: 2021-01-27 Impact factor: 6.570
Authors: Jane Louisa Debus; Paula Bachmann; Niklas Frahm; Pegah Mashhadiakbar; Silvan Elias Langhorst; Barbara Streckenbach; Julia Baldt; Felicita Heidler; Michael Hecker; Uwe Klaus Zettl Journal: Ther Adv Chronic Dis Date: 2022-08-04 Impact factor: 4.970
Authors: Sophia L Johnson; Mari Palta; Christie M Bartels; Carolyn T Thorpe; Jennifer M Weiss; Maureen A Smith Journal: BMC Pharmacol Toxicol Date: 2015-12-08 Impact factor: 2.483