Treatment satisfaction with disease-modifying therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Iraq

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS). More than 2 million people worldwide have MS. The goal of the present study was to compare Iraqi patients' treatment satisfaction with three different disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), administered orally, subcutaneously, and by slow infusion; namely, fingolimod, interferon beta-1b (IFNβ-1b), and natalizumab, respectively. As well as to assess the individual differences among these therapies about their effectiveness, convenience and global satisfaction also to assess the role of certain predictors on treatment satisfaction. Patient satisfaction with medication assessed by the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9) which comprises three components medication effectiveness, convenience, and global satisfaction. For The treatment satisfaction outcomes, the IFNβ-1b using patients had the lowest score for all TSQM-9 subscales. The most consistent differences among the groups were related to the convenience of the medication, with oral fingolimod have the highest scores and natalizumab the second. Regarding global satisfaction, natalizumab using group reported significantly higher satisfaction, as compared to both IFNβ-1b and fingolimod using groups. In conclusion, Iraqi relapsing-remitting MS patients are more satisfied with the natalizumab than with IFNβ-1b or fingolimod. Some predictors such as age, EDSS and duration of treatment, correlate with the level of satisfaction with different treatments.