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Treatment with Interferon Beta-1b Improves Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

G.P. Rice
Affiliation:
MS Clinic at the University Hospital, London ON
J. Oger
Affiliation:
MS Clinic at the University of BC, Vancouver Hospital & Health Care Center/Division of Neurology, BC
P. Duquette
Affiliation:
MS Clinic at the CHUM, Campus Notre-Dame, Montreal, QC
M. Bélanger
Affiliation:
MS Clinic at the Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, and Berlex Canada Inc., Montreal QC
S. Laplante
Affiliation:
MS Clinic at the Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, and Berlex Canada Inc., Montreal QC
J.F. Grenier
Affiliation:
MS Clinic at the Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, and Berlex Canada Inc., Montreal QC
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Abstract

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Background:

The Canadian Burden of Illness Study Group reported that the quality of life (QoL) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients falls drastically, early in the disease. With disability progression, the physical functioning scales of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) showed further decreases in QoL. The objective of this study is to describe the QoL of MS patients treated with interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b) and to compare it to the QoL observed in a group of patients who had not been treated with IFNB-1b.

Methods:

Treated patients were prospectively recruited and were seen at their regular visit to the MS clinic. They self-completed the SF-36 questionnaire and their QoL was described and retrospectively compared to that of historical controls.

Results:

When IFNB-1b treated patients were compared to historical control patients with the same relapsing forms of MS, the treated patients with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score lower than 3.0 had a significantly better QoL. This was significant for four of the eight SF-36 domains: Physical Function (+22%, p=0.0102), Role-Physical (+100%, p=0.0022), General Health (+27%, p=0.0070) and Social Function (+19%, p=0.0287). The average QoL difference was 8% in the EDSS 3.0-6.0 group and 10% in the EDSS >6 group.

Conclusion:

Patients with relapsing forms of MS treated with IFNB-1b have better QoL than patients who are not treated, especially those with an EDSS < 3.0.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉContexte:

Le Groupe canadien sur le fardeau de la maladie (Canadian Burden of Illness Study Group) a rapporté que la qualité de vie (QV) des patients atteints de sclérose en plaques (SEP) chute de façon drastique tôt au cours de la maladie. Avec la progression de l’invalidité, les échelles de fonctionnement physique de la Forme courte d’échelle à 36 questions (SF-36) ont montré une diminution plus marquée de la QV. Le but de cette etude était de décrire la QV de patients atteints de SEP traités par l’interféron bêta-1b (IFNB-1b) et de la comparer à la QV d’un groupe de patients n’ayant pas reçu ce traitement.

Méthodes:

Les patients traités ont été recrutés prospectivement et ont été vus à leur visite régulière à la clinique de SEP. Ils ont complété un questionnaire autoadministré, le SF-36, et leur QV a été décrite et comparée rétrospectivement à celle de contrôles historiques.

Résultats:

Quand les patients traités par le IFNB-1b ont été comparés aux contrôles historiques souffrant des memes formes rémittentes de SEP, les patients traités qui avaient un score plus bas que 3.0 à l’échelle d’invalidité EDSS avaient une QV significativement meilleure. Ceci était significatif pour quatre des huit domaines SF-36: fonctionnement physique (+22%, p=0.0102), rôle-physique (+100%, p=0.0022), santé générale (+27%, p=0.0070) et fonction sociale (+19%, p=0.0287). La différence moyenne dans la QV était de 8% dans le groupe ayant un EFSS de 3.0 à 6.0 et de 10% dans le groupe dont le score était >6.

Conclusion:

Les patients atteints de formes récurrentes de la SEP qui sont traités par l’IFNB-1b ont une meilleure QV que les patients qui ne sont pas traités, surtout ceux qui ont un EDSS <3.0.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 1999

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