ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHANGE IN OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE (QOL), DISEASE LEVEL AND FUNCTIONAL STATUS SINCE NATALIZUMAB INITIATION

Author(s)

Kitty Rajagopalan, PhD, Director, Global Health Economics1, Judith J. Stephenson, SM, Research Operations Director2, Siddhesh Kamat, MS, Research Operations Director31Biogen Idec Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA; 2 HealthCore Inc, Wilmington, DE, USA; 3 HealthCore, Wilmington, DE, USA

Objective: To assess the relationship between changes in patient-reported QoL, disease level and functional status after three months on natalizumab (TYSABRI). Methods: MS patients who received their 3rd natalizumab infusion and were enrolled in the manufacturer's restricted distribution program (TOUCH), participated in a 20-minute cross-sectional internet or telephone survey. Outcome measures included overall quality of life (QoL) change since initiating natalizumab using a 3-point scale (1-worse, 2-no change, 3-better), and pre/post disease level and functional status change. Disease level was measured on a 7 point scale: 0-“normal with no limitations on activity” through 6-“wheelchair bound” whereas functional status was measured on a 5 point scale: 1-“able to carry out usual daily activities” through 5-“required assistance”. Paired and independent sample t-tests were used based on the outcome metric. Results: Results from 319 patients in this ongoing survey (expected n=400) indicated that 75% were female. Overall QoL improved among 47% of patients, even in the short time on natalizumab. Only 3% of patients reported a worsening in QoL. On average, these patients were diagnosed with MS 15 years ago compared with the sample mean of 11 years. Increases in mean disease level change scores (0.30±1.13, p<0.001) and functional status change scores (0.36±0.80, p<0.001) were reported, indicating significant improvements. Compared to patients reporting no change or worsening QoL, patients reporting improved QoL had significantly higher mean disease change scores (0.56±1.28 vs. 0.08±0.92, p<0.001) and functional status change scores (0.71±0.82 vs. 0.04±0.63, p<0.001). Conclusion: After three months on natalizumab, patients reported improvements in overall QoL, disease level and functional status. These outcomes were positively and significantly associated with one another suggesting that, in a real world setting, patients may begin experiencing improvements in disease progression and QoL as early as three months after natalizumab initiation.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2008-05, ISPOR 2008, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Value in Health, Vol. 11, No. 3 (May/June 2008)

Code

PND34

Topic

Methodological & Statistical Research, Patient-Centered Research

Topic Subcategory

Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes, PRO & Related Methods

Disease

Neurological Disorders

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