Author Of 2 Presentations
LB1158 - COVID-19 pandemic and mental distress in Multiple Sclerosis: implications for clinical management (ID 1300)
Abstract
Background
in multiple sclerosis (MS), disease-related factors and dysfunctional coping might favour the development of mental distress induced by COVID-19 containment measures.
Objectives
to explore the relationship between mental distress, disability and coping strategies in the Italian MS population under lockdown.
Methods
Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to information collected via web-survey to identify modifiable factors that could account for mental distress. Information about the following domains was collected: (1) socio-demographic features; (2) general and MS related health status; (3) changes in lifestyle; (4) COVID-19 infection and risk perception; (5) physical disability assessed via the Patient-Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) scale and the Upper Extremity Function – Short Form (UEF) from the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) measurement system; (6) cognitive function investigated using the Cognition Function– Short Form from the Neuro-QoL. Abstract reasoning, logical thinking and, in part, sustained attention, were measured using six Raven-like matrices; (7) mental distress: four domains from the Neuro-QoL were explored. Specifically, sleep disturbances, anxiety feelings, depressive symptoms, emotional dyscontrol; (8) coping strategies: individual response to lockdown was assessed using 18 items from the COPE-NVI-25, evaluating five independent coping strategies: avoidance (AV), social support (SS), positive attitude (PA), problem solving (PS) and turning to religion (TR).
Results
845 subjects (497 MS and 348 controls) were included in the study. MS patients showed higher scores than controls for depression (p=0.005), but not for anxiety, emotional dyscontrol or sleep disturbances. The SEM explained 74% of the variance observed in depression score. Within the model, three latent factors were characterized from measured variables: motor disability and cognitive dysfunction contributed to disability (β=0.509 and β=0.836, p<0.001); positive attitude and exercise contributed to active attitude (β=0.386 and β=0.297, p<0.001); avoidance, social support and watching TV contributed to passive attitude (β=0.301, β=0.243 and β=0.212, p<0.001). As per the relationship between latent factors and their influence on depression, disability contributed to passive attitude (β=0.855, p<0.001) while both passive and active attitude significantly influenced depression (β=0.729 and β=-0.456, p<0.001).
Conclusions
As practical implication of our model, favoring exercise would enhance active attitude and its positive impact on mental well-being while, at the same time, reducing the negative impact of disability on depression, representing a valuable tool for the long term management of COVID-19 related mental distress in MS.
P0883 - MRI activity and extended interval of Natalizumab dosing: a multicenter Italian study (ID 1269)
- M. Clerico
- S. De Mercanti
- A. Signori
- M. Iudicello
- C. Cordioli
- E. Signoriello
- G. Lus
- S. Bonavita
- L. Lavorgna
- G. Maniscalco
- E. Curti
- L. Lorefice
- E. Cocco
- V. Nociti
- M. Mirabella
- D. Baroncini
- G. Mataluni
- D. Landi
- M. Petruzzo
- R. Lanzillo
- I. Gandoglia
- A. Laroni
- R. Frangiamore
- A. Sartori
- P. Cavalla
- G. Costantini
- M. Sormani
- R. Capra
Abstract
Background
Extending the natalizumab interval after the 24th administration could reduce the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) without efficacy reduction.
Objectives
To evaluate the non-inferiority of the efficacy of an extended interval dosing (EID) regimen compared with the standard interval dosing (SID) of natalizumab regarding the multiple sclerosis (MS) MRI activity.
Methods
It is an observational, multicenter (14 Italian centers), retrospective cohort study, starting from the 24th natalizumab infusion to the loss of follow-up or 2 years after baseline. Patients were grouped in 2 categories according to the mean number of weeks between doses: < 5 weeks, SID; ≥ 5 weeks, EID. Three hundred and eight patients were enrolled. Median dose interval (MDI) following 24th infusion was 5 weeks, with a bimodal distribution (modes at 4 and 6 weeks).
Results
Two hundred and sixteen patients were in the SID group (MDI = 4.4 weeks) and 144 in the EID group (MDI 6 weeks). The risk to develop active lesions on MRI is similar in SID and EID groups during the 6 and 12 months after the 24th natalizumab infusion, respectively 2.98% (95% CI: 0.56-5.40) vs 3.32% (95% CI: 0.00-6.65%) [p=0.88] and 6.65% (95% CI: 3.02-10.29) vs 5.67% (95% CI: 1.76-9.58%) [p=0.73]. The EID regimen does not increase the occurrence of MRI activity after 6 and 12 months.
Conclusions
There is no evidence of a reduced efficacy of natalizumab in an EID setting regarding the MRI activity. This observation confirms previous clinical results and together with the increasing evidence of a reduced risk of PML associated to an EID regimen, supports the need of a bigger randomized study to assess the need to change the standard of the natalizumab dosing schedule, in order to better manage JCV-positive patients after 24 doses of natalizumab.