DX18
Evaluation of Efficacy and Tolerability of Sc IFN Beta 1-a Given Three Times per Week in an Older Multiple Sclerosis Population
Objectives: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of interferon beta 1a given SC 3x/week (sc IFN β 1-a tiw) in younger vs. older (≥50 years) relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
Methods: Patients on sc IFN β 1-a tiw were extracted from NYSMSC database (n=510). Follow-up data was examined in a subgroup with data available to determine differences in clinical measures in the year preceding sc IFN β 1-a tiw initiation to ≥ 1 year following therapy initiation between patients <50 and ≥50 years of age. Comparisons for clinical characteristics as well as patient-reported outcomes (PROs; Lifeware®) were performed.
Results: Of the 510 relapsing MS patients on sc IFN β 1-a tiw, 389 (76.3%) were < 50 and 121 (23.7%) were ≥50 years of age. Younger patients had shorter disease duration (mean=4.6 [SD=5.4] vs 10.2 [8.7] years, p<.001) and had lower EDSS scores (2.6 [1.7] vs 3.9 [2.0] p<.001). There were no significant group differences in psychosocial/mental patient-reported outcomes. Subgroup analyses showed that 142 (62.8%) of the patients in the <50 years had improved/ stable EDSS scores after ≥ 1 year of starting sc IFN β 1-a tiw, similar to those in the ≥50 age (40, 65.6%, p=ns). One hundred and ten (110, 82.7%) patients <50 years old had a stable or improved annualized relapse rate, compared to 31 (88.6%) of those > 50 years of age (p=ns).
Conclusions: Patients ≥ 50 years old have similar clinical (objective and perceived) benefit from sc IFN β 1-a tiw compared to the younger MS patients.