Contributions
Abstract: EP1403
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Clinical assessment tools
Introduction: Telemedicine is a method to provide health care services at a distant site.The objective of this study was to measure the ability of telemedicine to detect relapses in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The second aim was to observe the difference between patients with cognitive impairment and cognitive preservation.
Methods: 130 patients under treatment with first-line drugs for MS who had the computer skills to access to a web platform created by this study were recruited. The patients had to answer surveys about their clinical status and were randomized in two groups: survey (intervention) and non-survey (control). Also, three visits were made during the study: the basal visit, visit 6 and visit 12 months. All patients fulfilled questionnaires of mood, health, satisfaction with health services and adherence to treatment. They performed the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC), and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The cognitive status was estimated using two tests for cognitive ability measurement: the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and a classification was done: cognitive impairment/ suspected impairment/ cognitive preservation.
Results: The sensitivity of the platform survey was 100% and the specificity 96.5%. Both groups were equivalent in all the analyzed features, with the exception of the EDSS, which was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (mean 0 vs. 1). There were no more relapses in the survey/intervention group (average 0 vs. 0). Patients with cognitive impairment had a worse mood at the beginning of the study and were less satisfied with the health services received than the cognitively preserved, but they showed the same adherence as them.
Conclusions: Telemedicine can be a useful tool in detecting relapses in MS patients and cognition is an important factor in health and mood of patients with multiple sclerosis.
Disclosure: This study has been sponsored by Novartis
Abstract: EP1403
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Clinical assessment tools
Introduction: Telemedicine is a method to provide health care services at a distant site.The objective of this study was to measure the ability of telemedicine to detect relapses in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The second aim was to observe the difference between patients with cognitive impairment and cognitive preservation.
Methods: 130 patients under treatment with first-line drugs for MS who had the computer skills to access to a web platform created by this study were recruited. The patients had to answer surveys about their clinical status and were randomized in two groups: survey (intervention) and non-survey (control). Also, three visits were made during the study: the basal visit, visit 6 and visit 12 months. All patients fulfilled questionnaires of mood, health, satisfaction with health services and adherence to treatment. They performed the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC), and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The cognitive status was estimated using two tests for cognitive ability measurement: the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and a classification was done: cognitive impairment/ suspected impairment/ cognitive preservation.
Results: The sensitivity of the platform survey was 100% and the specificity 96.5%. Both groups were equivalent in all the analyzed features, with the exception of the EDSS, which was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (mean 0 vs. 1). There were no more relapses in the survey/intervention group (average 0 vs. 0). Patients with cognitive impairment had a worse mood at the beginning of the study and were less satisfied with the health services received than the cognitively preserved, but they showed the same adherence as them.
Conclusions: Telemedicine can be a useful tool in detecting relapses in MS patients and cognition is an important factor in health and mood of patients with multiple sclerosis.
Disclosure: This study has been sponsored by Novartis