Peter Rieckmann1, Matthias Schwab2, Dieter Pöhlau3, Iris-Katharina Penner4,5, Torsten Wagner6, Elke Schel6, Antonios Bayas7. 1. Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Medical Park Loipl, Bischofswiesen, Germany. 2. Hans Berger Department of Neurology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany. 3. Kamillus Klinik, Asbach, Germany. 4. COGITO Center for Applied Neurocognition and Neuropsychological Research, Düsseldorf, Germany. 5. Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. 6. Merck Serono GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany. 7. Department of Neurology, Klinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany. antonios.bayas@klinikum-augsburg.de.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Patient adherence is a key determinant of treatment success in multiple sclerosis (MS). The RebiSmart® autoinjector facilitates patient self-injection of subcutaneous interferon β-1a (sc IFN β-1a) and allows quantitative measurement of adherence via its automated dosing log. We evaluated patient adherence and patient-reported cognitive and health-economic outcomes over 2 years in patients using RebiSmart®. METHODS: In this non-interventional, single-arm study, enrolled patients were 12-65 years of age, had relapsing-remitting MS or a single demyelinating event, and had been prescribed 44 or 22 μg sc IFN β-1a. Quantitative adherence (proportion of scheduled injections administered) and qualitative adherence (proportion of weeks with treatment schedule correctly followed) were monitored over 2 years. Other end points included self-assessed adherence, patient-reported outcomes (fatigue, depression and quality of life), cognitive outcomes and health-economic outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 368 of 392 (93.9%) enrolled patients were analyzed. Mean quantitative adherence was 85.3% overall (months 1-24), 89.6% for months 1-12 and 83.3% for months 13-24. No major impact on quantitative adherence was observed for sex, age (< 37 years vs. ≥ 37 years), prior medication or participation in the patient support program RebiSTAR®. Mean qualitative adherence was 67.0% overall (months 1-24). Self-assessed adherence was reported as being higher than RebiSmart®-monitored adherence. There was a trend toward more MS-related visits to physicians among patients with high adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients using RebiSmart® demonstrated high adherence to treatment that was associated with a slight improvement in information processing speed and working memory and an overall tendency for more intensive self-management. FUNDING: Merck Serono GmbH, Germany, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
INTRODUCTION:Patient adherence is a key determinant of treatment success in multiple sclerosis (MS). The RebiSmart® autoinjector facilitates patient self-injection of subcutaneous interferon β-1a (sc IFN β-1a) and allows quantitative measurement of adherence via its automated dosing log. We evaluated patient adherence and patient-reported cognitive and health-economic outcomes over 2 years in patients using RebiSmart®. METHODS: In this non-interventional, single-arm study, enrolled patients were 12-65 years of age, had relapsing-remitting MS or a single demyelinating event, and had been prescribed 44 or 22 μg sc IFN β-1a. Quantitative adherence (proportion of scheduled injections administered) and qualitative adherence (proportion of weeks with treatment schedule correctly followed) were monitored over 2 years. Other end points included self-assessed adherence, patient-reported outcomes (fatigue, depression and quality of life), cognitive outcomes and health-economic outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 368 of 392 (93.9%) enrolled patients were analyzed. Mean quantitative adherence was 85.3% overall (months 1-24), 89.6% for months 1-12 and 83.3% for months 13-24. No major impact on quantitative adherence was observed for sex, age (< 37 years vs. ≥ 37 years), prior medication or participation in the patient support program RebiSTAR®. Mean qualitative adherence was 67.0% overall (months 1-24). Self-assessed adherence was reported as being higher than RebiSmart®-monitored adherence. There was a trend toward more MS-related visits to physicians among patients with high adherence. CONCLUSIONS:Patients using RebiSmart® demonstrated high adherence to treatment that was associated with a slight improvement in information processing speed and working memory and an overall tendency for more intensive self-management. FUNDING: Merck Serono GmbH, Germany, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.