MS Progresses Moderately in Older Adults
Not only do elderly individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a lower disability burden and relapse rate than previously thought, but disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are also safe for them to use, according to a new study.
The study, which was co-authored by Dr Mattia Rosso and colleagues, was presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2019 in Dallas, Texas, on March 1.
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To assess the clinical severity of MS among the elderly as well as the effect of DMT on the population, the researchers identified 195 participants in the Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigations in MS at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (CLIMB) study who were aged 65 years or older and had more than 5 clinic visits after that age.
The participants’ comorbidities, disability scores (expanded disability status scale), DMT administration, DMT compliance, adverse drug reactions, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes, including radiological attacks, were retrospectively reviewed.
The researchers determined that the participants presented with low relapse rates (0.05±0.15 attacks/year) and a moderate rate of progression (18.89% of relapsing-remitting patients progressed to secondary progressive MS).
Though the percentage decreased from 41.02% to 36.41% by the time of the last visit, a high proportion of participants were untreated.
For participants who were taking treatment, the adverse drug reaction rate was lower among those who were taking novel oral (39.0%) and infusion therapies (6.7%) than among those being treated with first-generation therapies, including interferon beta (45.45%) and glatiramer acetate (45.76%).
Most adverse drug reactions were mild, with very few being considered severe. The most common type was injection-related symptoms.
“Overall, lower rates of adverse drug reactions were observed with newer drugs and most side effects were mild, suggesting the safety of DMT use in old age,” the researchers concluded. “Due to our observational design, a prospective study is needed in order to assess the incidence of adverse drug reactions in old age.”
—Colleen Murphy
Reference:
Rosso M, Gonzalez CT, Manieri M, Healy BC, Weiner HL, Chitnis T. Longitudinal study of disease burden and complications in a cohort of multiple sclerosis patients over the age of 65. Paper presented at: Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2019; February 28-March 2, 2019; Dallas, TX.https://actrims.confex.com/actrims/2019/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/4153. Accessed March 6, 2019.