OBJECTIVES: To describe both patient- and physician-reported adherence and compliance to different disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for active/nonactive progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) patients.

METHODS: US physicians who participated in the 2021 cross-sectional survey collected by the Adelphi Disease Specific Programme reported data on their adult patients with active/nonactive PMS. These patients were asked to participate in the patient-reported survey, which included the relevant 11-item adherence-related questionnaire to their current DMT. Both the patient- and physician-reported adherence data were described. DMTs were categorized by administration (infusions, orals, injectables).

RESULTS: The patient-reported data included 46 patients on infusions, 22 on orals, and 11 on injectables. Mean age (standard deviation) was 50.6 (9.8) years, 53.0 (10.0) years, and 54.4 (11.9) years for those on infusions, orals, and injectables, respectively. At least 80% of patients on infusions reported that they followed eight adherence measures; this was reported for three measures for patients on orals and four measures for patients on injectables. At least 70% of patients on infusions reported following the remaining three adherence measures. The majority of patients on injectables (64%) missed taking their medicine some of the time when feeling sick, while the majority of patients on orals (64%) forgot to take their medicine some of the time.

Physicians reported the highest percentage of patients who were completely compliant and adherent were those on infusions (compliant: n=207, 92%; adherent: n=212, 89%), followed by orals (compliant: n=78, 92%; adherent: n=80, 74%), then injectables (compliant: n=65, 75%; adherent: n=66, 58%).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with active/nonactive PMS and physicians caring for them reported the greatest adherence and compliance with infusion DMTs. Differences between patient- and physician-reported adherence/compliance were seen; patient-reported may be more accurately reported than physician-reported, especially for at-home self-administered orals or injectables than in-office infusions, due to recall/proper reporting.