Background

Studies have shown that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) such as peginterferon beta-1a and intramuscular (IM) interferon (IFN) beta-1a in real-world clinical practice tend to be older than patients in randomized clinical trials. However, data on the use of DMTs in real-world patients with MS who are on average older than those in clinical trials are limited.

Objectives

Describe the characteristics of patients aged ≥55 years treated with peginterferon beta-1a or IM IFN beta-1a in real-world clinical practice.

Methods

Truven MarketScan^® Commercial Claims and Medicare Supplemental database records from October 2013 through March 2018 were used to identify patients with ≥1 diagnosis of MS, ≥1 claim for peginterferon beta-1a or IM IFN beta-1a during the study period (date of first claim=index date), age ≥55 years as of the index date, and ≥1 year of continuous medical and pharmacy coverage prior to the index date.

Results

This study included 2479 patients aged ≥55 years. Of these, 253 (10.2%) were treated with peginterferon beta-1a (mean age: 61.7 years) and 2226 (89.8%) with IM IFN beta-1a (mean age, 60.6 years). In both groups, most patients were aged 55–64 years (peginterferon beta-1a, 84.2%; IM IFN beta-1a, 76.5%). In the year prior to index, 180 peginterferon beta-1a patients (71.2%) had prior DMT use; of these, 52.2% switched from a different injectable, 43.3% from an oral DMT, and 4.4% from an infusible DMT. Over the study period, the mean (SD) number of relapses was low (peginterferon beta-1a, 0.26 [0.64]; IM IFN beta-1a, 0.13 [0.54]), and most patients in both groups were free from relapse (peginterferon beta-1a, 81.8%; IM IFN beta-1a, 91.2%). Additional patient characteristics, including comorbidity data, and effectiveness outcomes will be presented.

Conclusions

This retrospective claims database study provides real-world data on the usage of peginterferon beta-1a and IM IFN beta-1a in patients aged ≥55 years. Of the patients initiating peginterferon beta-1a, a majority switched from a different injectable DMT in the year prior to the index date, though >40% switched from an oral DMT. Overall, most peginterferon beta-1a and IM IFN beta-1a patients aged ≥55 years remained free from relapse.

This study was supported by Biogen.