Survey of 5,000 Multiple Sclerosis Patients Shows Room for Improvement in Treatment

PHILADELPHIA, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Union, LLC announced today on its website http://multiplesclerosis.net the topline results from its "2014 MS in America" survey of over 5,000 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This survey is one of the largest of its kind ever conducted.

Symptoms – Diagnosis – Treatment Gap 

Even though scientific evidence[i] shows that early treatment can reduce the risk of disease progression, there's a considerable time gap between initial symptoms & diagnosis. The survey showed that while many people started experiencing symptoms in their mid twenties, they weren't diagnosed until a decade later.

Room for Improvement

Patients reported trying a variety of treatment techniques over time (ranging from prescription medicines to rehabilitation therapies to complementary/alternative approaches) but most respondents currently used prescription treatments. Approximately 60% were satisfied with their current regimen but nearly 40% were either neutral or dissatisfied. 

Shift to Oral Therapies:

Historically, prescription treatment of MS has been dominated by injectable and infusion therapies. With the recent introduction of oral prescription drugs for the most common type of MS called relapsing remitting MS (RRMS), this paradigm is shifting towards orals, with nearly a third of RRMS patients reporting using an oral prescription. A special section discussing the results from the survey specific to oral therapies can be found on http://multiplesclerosis.net.

Needle fatigue, tolerability, convenience and efficacy are the most cited reasons for people choosing oral therapies and respondents report being more satisfied with oral therapies than injectables. Of those currently taking an injectable, nearly half have considered switching to an oral, signaling a continued shift away from injectable therapies.

About the Survey:

The MS in America Study was conducted online in early 2014. The goal of the study was to establish an understanding of the current state of people affected by MS.

The survey included a total of 156 questions on a broad range of topics. A total of 6,202 people started the survey. 5,710 met eligibility requirements, and 5,004 people completed the survey.

To qualify for the survey, participants had to be MS patients over 18 years old and a US resident or US citizen living abroad.

The study was solely developed and funded by Health Union, LLC which does not manufacture, sell nor market any product to diagnose, prevent or treat MS or any other disease.

[i] European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis
 Source reference: Jokubaitis V et al, "Predictors of 12-month confirmed disability progression after onset of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis" ECTRIMS 2013; Abstract 59 http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ECTRIMS/42019

SOURCE Health Union, LLC