Author Of 1 Presentation
LB1159 - The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Treatment Adherence of People with Multiple Sclerosis (ID 1305)
Abstract
Background
Decreased adherence to disease modifying treatment has been shown to be associated with an increase in relapse frequency in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed the functioning of health systems and has seriously affected patients' lifestyles and the way health professionals work. However, there has been no study investigating the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on treatment adherence of pwMS.
Objectives
This study aims to investigate the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on treatment adherence of pwMS receiving oral and injectable DMT's.
Methods
The study was conducted using an online survey form. Individuals who were followed up with the diagnosis of MS and registered to iMed database in the MS unit of Erciyes University Medical Faculty were invited to participate to the study. PwMS were asked to assess the treatment adherence before and during the Covid-19 pandemic with the Turkish Version of Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (MS-TAQ) which has been found as valid and reliable tool in Turkey.
Results
448 pwMS who met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate the study. 221 answered the questionnaire. 9 had incomplete or doubtful data and 8 was not receiving any DMT. 204 were enrolled to the study. 37 pwMS were receiving monoclonal antibody therefore they were excluded from treatment adherence analysis. 167 pwMS were eligible for further analysis. PwMS were predominantly females (68.3%). Mean age was 32.97±8.60 years. Median disease duration was 4 (0.1-25) years. 155 pwMS (92.8%) were defined as adherent and 12 (7.2%) were defined as non-adherent before the pandemic and 152 pwMS (91.0%) were defined as adherent and 15 (9.0%) were defined as non-adherent during the pandemic. Additionally, two pwMS, one receiving teriflunomide and the other receiving glatiramer acetate, reported having had the Covid-19 infection. During the pandemic period, 52 participants (31,3%) missed at least one dose during one month in the pandemic period, while 43 participants (25,7%) missed at least one drug dose in the last month before pandemic (p= 0,022). Treatment adherence status and the number of missed dose were not statistically different before and during pandemic (p=0.959). The barriers affecting treatment adherence did not reveal any statistically significant difference before and during the pandemic.
Conclusions
In this study, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the treatment adherence of pwMS was evaluated for the first time. The results of our study showed that the pandemic only slightly affected treatment adherence of pwMS in Turkey. Multinational studies on individuals with MS will be able to provide more detailed information about the treatment adherence.
Presenter Of 1 Presentation
LB1159 - The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Treatment Adherence of People with Multiple Sclerosis (ID 1305)
Abstract
Background
Decreased adherence to disease modifying treatment has been shown to be associated with an increase in relapse frequency in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed the functioning of health systems and has seriously affected patients' lifestyles and the way health professionals work. However, there has been no study investigating the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on treatment adherence of pwMS.
Objectives
This study aims to investigate the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on treatment adherence of pwMS receiving oral and injectable DMT's.
Methods
The study was conducted using an online survey form. Individuals who were followed up with the diagnosis of MS and registered to iMed database in the MS unit of Erciyes University Medical Faculty were invited to participate to the study. PwMS were asked to assess the treatment adherence before and during the Covid-19 pandemic with the Turkish Version of Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (MS-TAQ) which has been found as valid and reliable tool in Turkey.
Results
448 pwMS who met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate the study. 221 answered the questionnaire. 9 had incomplete or doubtful data and 8 was not receiving any DMT. 204 were enrolled to the study. 37 pwMS were receiving monoclonal antibody therefore they were excluded from treatment adherence analysis. 167 pwMS were eligible for further analysis. PwMS were predominantly females (68.3%). Mean age was 32.97±8.60 years. Median disease duration was 4 (0.1-25) years. 155 pwMS (92.8%) were defined as adherent and 12 (7.2%) were defined as non-adherent before the pandemic and 152 pwMS (91.0%) were defined as adherent and 15 (9.0%) were defined as non-adherent during the pandemic. Additionally, two pwMS, one receiving teriflunomide and the other receiving glatiramer acetate, reported having had the Covid-19 infection. During the pandemic period, 52 participants (31,3%) missed at least one dose during one month in the pandemic period, while 43 participants (25,7%) missed at least one drug dose in the last month before pandemic (p= 0,022). Treatment adherence status and the number of missed dose were not statistically different before and during pandemic (p=0.959). The barriers affecting treatment adherence did not reveal any statistically significant difference before and during the pandemic.
Conclusions
In this study, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the treatment adherence of pwMS was evaluated for the first time. The results of our study showed that the pandemic only slightly affected treatment adherence of pwMS in Turkey. Multinational studies on individuals with MS will be able to provide more detailed information about the treatment adherence.