Quality of Life in People With Multiple Sclerosis Receiving Glatiramer Acetate Or Interferon in Greek Clinical Practice

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate glatiramer acetate (GA) or IFN-β effects on quality of life (QoL) in people with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis (PwRRMS) in Greece. Methods: A prospective, practice-based study. QoL/function/symptoms were assessed by seven questionnaires/scales. Results: Significant increases in Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey scores occurred with GA in four of the eight domains and three of the eight domains at 6 and 12 months, respectively, versus baseline. Similar and significant SF-36 score improvements occurred with GA in treatment-naive PwRRMS. SF-36 scores were unaffected in GA-treated, IFN-β treatment-experienced PwRRMS, or with IFN-β versus baseline. Slight improvements in fatigue and sexual satisfaction were evident (6 months). No deteriorations were seen in the other four instruments. Conclusion: The findings show that 12-month treatment with GA, but not IFN-β, improved certain QoL parameters in treatment-naive PwRRMS.

Plain language summary

People with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis (PwRRMS) are treated with drugs, for example, glatiramer acetate (GA) or IFN-β. We checked if these drugs improved quality of life (QoL) in PwRRMS in Greece. QoL was measured by seven questionnaires, asking many questions on aspects of life. One survey showed significant improvements with GA treatment in almost half of the question groups. Similar improvements in this survey were seen with GA in patients who had no other previous treatments. No changes were seen in GA-treated PwRRMS who previously received IFN-β, or treated with IFN-β alone. Slight improvements in fatigue and sexual satisfaction were seen. No QoL deteriorations were seen in the other four questionnaires. Twelve months of GA treatment, but not IFN-β, improved certain QoL parameters in treatment-naive PwRRMS.

Keywords:

• glatiramer acetate
• interferon
• multiple sclerosis
• quality of life
• real-world evidence

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at:www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2217/nmt-2022-0004

Author contributions

D Mitsikostas contributed to the conceptualization, methodology, validation, investigation, resources, data curation, writing (review and edit), visualization, supervision, project administration and funding acquisition. C Bakirtzis contributed to validation, investigation, data curation and writing (review and edit). I Nikolaidis contributed to writing (review and edit). V Tsimourtou contributed to investigation and writing (review and edit). P Kountra contributed to investigation and writing (review and edit). S Matsi contributed to writing (review and edit) and funding acquisition. A Papadimitriou contributed to investigation and writing (review and edit).

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was sponsored by Teva Pharmaceuticals.

D Mitsikostas has received honoraria, advisory board fees, travel expenses and/or research grants from Allergan, Amgen, Biogen, Cefaly, Eli Lilly, ElectroCore, Genesis Pharma, Merck Serono, Mylan, Merck, Merz, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme and Teva, Specifar-Teva. D Mitsikostas is currently President of the Hellenic Headache Society and Co-Chair of the Headache Scientific Panel at the European Academy of Neurology. D Mitsikostas is Associate Editor of Journal of Headache and Pain. C Bakirtzis has received travel support, and/or research grants, and/or lecture fees, and/or advisory services from Novartis, Bayer, Merck, Genesis Pharma, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, Specifar, Biogen and Mylan. I Nikolaidis has received conference fees and travel sponsorship from Bayer, Specifar-Teva, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Roche and Mylan; speaker honoraria from Merck, Sanofi-Genzyme, Specifar-Teva, Genesis Pharma and Novartis; and honoraria for participation in advisory boards from Sanofi-Genzyme, Specifar-Teva and Roche. V Tsimourtou has received lecture fees from Bayer, Merck Serono, Specifar, Genesis Pharma, Sanofi Genzyme, Novartis, as well as travel support and conference registration fees from Bayer, Merck Serono, Genesis Pharma, Teva, Specifar, Novartis and UCB. P Kountra has nothing to disclose. S Matsi is an employee of Teva Pharmaceuticals. A Papadimitriou has received honoraria, advisory board fees, travel expenses and/or research grants from Biogen, Genesis Pharma, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, Teva and Specifar-Teva.

Writing disclosure

Medical writing support for this manuscript was provided by J Phillipson, of Ashfield MedComms, an Inizio company, and funded by Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Ethical conduct of research

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, Good Clinical Practice and applicable regulatory requirements. The protocol/informed consent forms were reviewed and approved by the Hospital Scientific Committees. All participants with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis signed an informed consent form before any study-related procedure commenced.

Data sharing statement

The data sets used and/or analyzed for the study described in this manuscript are available upon reasonable request. Qualified researchers may request access to patient-level data and related study documents including the study protocol and the statistical analysis plan. Patient-level data will be de-identified and study documents will be redacted to protect the privacy of trial participants and to protect commercially confidential information.