Merck Gesellschaft mbH

Author Of 1 Presentation

Disease Modifying Therapies – Risk Management Poster Presentation

P0320 - Effect of age on effectiveness and discontinuation of subcutaneous interferon beta-1a, and healthcare utilization, in patients with multiple sclerosis (ID 391)

Speakers
Presentation Number
P0320
Presentation Topic
Disease Modifying Therapies – Risk Management

Abstract

Background

Subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (sc IFNβ-1a) is a well-established multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy with cumulative exposure of approximately 1,766,525 patient-years. Previous clinical trials demonstrate that patient age does not impact the efficacy of such therapy for treatment of MS.

Objectives

Using real-world data, we evaluated the effect of age on the effectiveness and discontinuation of sc IFNβ-1a, and healthcare utilization, in patients with MS.

Methods

This cohort study using MarketScan© Databases included adult patients with MS newly initiated with sc IFNß-1a between Jul2010-Dec2015, with at least 6 months’ patient history before initiation (index date), and a recorded diagnosis of MS over the 6 months before or at initiation. Follow-up was until end of study period, end of insurance, or treatment discontinuation. Incidence rate (IR) per 100 person-years was used for discontinuation. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence internal (CI) were used to compare time to first relapse and discontinuation.

Results

Among 5,340 patients included, 14.5% were aged 18-30y, 27.5% 31-40y, 30.5% 41-50y, and 27.5% were 51+y. Relapse-free probability at 2-y ranged from 91.44% in 18-30y to 92.82% in 51+y. Compared with 18-30y, the HRs for relapse at 2-y (95%CI) were 31-40y: 1.00 (0.70, 1.43), 41-50y: 0.79 (0.55, 1.12), and 51+y: 0.86 (0.60, 1.24). In all age groups, hospitalizations due to MS were ≤0.01 and neurology visits were 0.2 patient per-month (PPM) over 2-y. Mean number (95%CI) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans performed PPM over 2-y ranged from 0.25 (0.16, 0.34) in 18-30y to 0.14 (0.12, 0.16) in 51y+ and outpatients visits due to MS from 0.68 (0.57, 0.78) to 0.75 (0.67, 0.82). Discontinuation IR at 2-y was 72.06 (65.12, 79.52) in 18-30y and 57.95 (53.76, 62.38) in 51+y. Compared to 18-30y, the HR of discontinuation decreased from 0.89 (0.79, 1.01) in 31-40y to 0.86 (0.76, 0.97) in 51+y.

Conclusions

Data suggest no effect of age on the effectiveness of sc IFNß-1a in the real-world setting, while treatment discontinuation decreased with increasing age. Older MS patients initiating sc IFNß-1a appear to have less active disease, reflected in lower relapses, and undergo MRI scanning less frequently than younger patients.

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