Abstract: P368
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Economic burden
Background: Soaring costs for Disease Modifying Treatments (DMTs) have received much attention for their long-term financial impact in relation to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) clinical evolution. In view of this, the present retrospective cohort study aims to explore the relationships between costs sustained for DMT administration and management, and the evolution of MS.
Methods: 544 newly diagnosed, drug naïve Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) patients, were included and followed up for 10.1±3.3 years. Costs for DMT administration and management were referred to each year of observation (annual costs), in order to obtain annual costs before study endpoints were reached. Following clinical endpoints were recorded: occurrence of the first relapse, annualised relapse rate (ARR), 1-point EDSS progression, reaching of EDSS 4.0, reaching of EDSS 6.0, and conversion to secondary progressive MS (SP). Age, gender, disease duration and EDSS were recorded at the time of diagnosis, and utilized as covariates for statistical analyses.
Results: At time varying Cox regression models, increasing annual costs before the specific endpoint was reached, were negatively associated with the 1-point EDSS progression (HR=0.897; p=0.018), with the reaching of EDSS 6.0 (HR=0.925; p=0.030), and with the conversion to SP (HR=0.902; p=0.006), but not with the occurrence of the first relapse (HR=0.993; p=0.913), and with the reaching of EDSS 4.0 (HR=0.929; p=0.070). At Poisson regression analysis, overall annual costs were positively associated with the ARR (Coef=2.183; p=0.016).
Conclusion: A higher expenditure for treating more aggressive MS has been associated with a relatively milder disease evolution after 10 years. Therefore, in spite of the short-term resource utilization, the early initiation of the most appropriate DMT might cause long-term direct and indirect cost savings.
Disclosure: Authros have nothing to disclose.
Abstract: P368
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Economic burden
Background: Soaring costs for Disease Modifying Treatments (DMTs) have received much attention for their long-term financial impact in relation to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) clinical evolution. In view of this, the present retrospective cohort study aims to explore the relationships between costs sustained for DMT administration and management, and the evolution of MS.
Methods: 544 newly diagnosed, drug naïve Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) patients, were included and followed up for 10.1±3.3 years. Costs for DMT administration and management were referred to each year of observation (annual costs), in order to obtain annual costs before study endpoints were reached. Following clinical endpoints were recorded: occurrence of the first relapse, annualised relapse rate (ARR), 1-point EDSS progression, reaching of EDSS 4.0, reaching of EDSS 6.0, and conversion to secondary progressive MS (SP). Age, gender, disease duration and EDSS were recorded at the time of diagnosis, and utilized as covariates for statistical analyses.
Results: At time varying Cox regression models, increasing annual costs before the specific endpoint was reached, were negatively associated with the 1-point EDSS progression (HR=0.897; p=0.018), with the reaching of EDSS 6.0 (HR=0.925; p=0.030), and with the conversion to SP (HR=0.902; p=0.006), but not with the occurrence of the first relapse (HR=0.993; p=0.913), and with the reaching of EDSS 4.0 (HR=0.929; p=0.070). At Poisson regression analysis, overall annual costs were positively associated with the ARR (Coef=2.183; p=0.016).
Conclusion: A higher expenditure for treating more aggressive MS has been associated with a relatively milder disease evolution after 10 years. Therefore, in spite of the short-term resource utilization, the early initiation of the most appropriate DMT might cause long-term direct and indirect cost savings.
Disclosure: Authros have nothing to disclose.