Patient Preference and Adherence (Jul 2018)

Treatment satisfaction significantly improves in patients with multiple sclerosis switching from interferon beta therapy to peginterferon beta-1a every 2 weeks

  • Hendin B,
  • Naismith RT,
  • Wray SE,
  • Huang D,
  • Dong Q,
  • Livingston T,
  • Jones DL,
  • Watson C,
  • Jhaveri M

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 1289 – 1297

Abstract

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Barry Hendin,1 Robert T Naismith,2 Sibyl E Wray,3 Deren Huang,4 Qunming Dong,5 Terrie Livingston,6 Daniel L Jones,6 Crystal Watson,7 Mehul Jhaveri6 1Phoenix Neurological Associates, Phoenix, AZ, USA; 2Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA; 3Hope Neurology MS Center, Knoxville, TN, USA; 4Mount Carmel Neuroscience and MDH Research, Westerville, OH, USA; 5Biostatistics, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA; 6US Medical, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA; 7Global Value and Access, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA Objectives: Posthoc analysis of treatment satisfaction in patients switching to subcutaneous (SC) peginterferon beta-1a in the ALLOW study.Patients and methods: Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis treated with intramuscular interferon (IFN) beta-1a or SC IFN beta-1a or beta-1b remained on their current therapy for a 4-week run-in period, followed by a switch to SC peginterferon beta-1a 125 mcg every 2 weeks for 48 weeks. Treatment satisfaction was measured using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), which covers effectiveness, side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction. Patients completed the TSQM at baseline (prior to starting the 4-week run-in period) and 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks after switching, and scores were analyzed for the overall population and compared to baseline. Patients reported the severity of flu-like symptoms (FLS) at baseline and with each peginterferon beta-1a injection; clinicians evaluated the occurrence of injection-site reactions (ISRs) after the first dose of peginterferon beta-1a and every 12 weeks thereafter. TSQM scores were stratified by the presence of FLS or ISRs during the study period and by prior IFN therapy use.Results: For the overall population (n=194), convenience and global satisfaction scores significantly improved from baseline at all time points, and side effect satisfaction scores significantly improved up to week 36. Convenience scores significantly improved regardless of FLS, ISRs, or prior IFN therapy. Patients without FLS during the study period showed significant improvements in global satisfaction, but not side effect satisfaction, versus those with FLS. Patients switching from SC IFN therapies achieved greater improvements in treatment satisfaction than patients who switched from intramuscular IFN beta-1a.Conclusions: Switching relapsing multiple sclerosis patients to SC peginterferon beta-1a from other IFN therapies significantly improved treatment satisfaction and convenience. Keywords: interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, peginterferon beta-1a, relapsing multiple sclerosis, treatment satisfaction, Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication, TSQM, quality of life, patient-reported outcomes

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