Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
10:46
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Disease progression among multiple sclerosis patients before and during a disease-modifying drug program: a
P J Veugelers1, J D Fisk, M G Brown
1School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|December 8, 2009
Summary
Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) effectively slow multiple sclerosis (MS) progression in real-world settings. Publicly funded programs demonstrate significant reductions in disability, supporting broader DMD implementation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Randomized controlled trials show disease-modifying drug (DMD) efficacy in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Real-world data are crucial to assess DMD effectiveness in slowing disease progression and informing health policy.
- Existing studies primarily focus on reducing MS attacks, necessitating broader outcome evaluations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in slowing multiple sclerosis (MS) progression within a publicly funded insurance program.
- To provide real-world evidence on DMD program effectiveness for health policy and decision-making.
- To analyze data from a comprehensive, geographically defined MS patient population.
Main Methods:
- Survival analysis methods were used to assess disease progression to specific Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) endpoints.
- Hierarchical linear regression was employed for subgroup analyses of patients eligible for treatment.
- Data from 1752 MS patients (10,312 assessments) between 1980 and 2004 were analyzed from a regional MS clinic.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant reduction in multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression to EDSS endpoints was observed after the program's introduction.
- Subgroup analyses indicated that disease progression was slowed in patients receiving their first prescribed DMD.
- The study provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of DMD programs in a real-world clinical setting.
Conclusions:
- Publicly funded disease-modifying drug (DMD) programs are effective in slowing multiple sclerosis (MS) progression.
- Real-world evidence supports the broader implementation of DMD programs for MS management.
- DMDs administered through comprehensive insurance programs contribute to reduced disability progression in MS patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
01:26Longitudinal Studies
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
01:29Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is the clinical practice of measuring specific drug levels in a patient's blood or body tissues to manage and optimize therapy. TDM is crucial for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, like warfarin and phenytoin, where incorrect doses can lead to treatment failure or severe side effects. This monitoring ensures the dosage administered is within a safe and effective range. The factors affecting therapeutic drug monitoring include:Patient-Specific Factors:a.