1. The influence of socioeconomic factors on access to disease modifying treatment in a Norwegian multiple sclerosis cohort.
- Author
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Flemmen, Heidi Øyen, Simonsen, Cecilia Smith, Broch, Line, Brunborg, Cathrine, Berg-Hansen, Pål, Moen, Stine Marit, Kersten, Hege, and Celius, Elisabeth Gulowsen
- Abstract
• The paper present the study of a population-based Norwegian MS cohort, including 1314 persons with MS (pwMS). Detailed information on disease development and use of disease modifying treatment (DMT) was combined with data on socioeconomic factors. • The pwMS treated with DMT were younger at onset, had shorter time from onset to diagnosis and lower EDSS at diagnosis. • The subgroup treated with a high efficacy DMT as a first drug was younger and had 0.5 point higher EDSS score than those not treated with a high efficacy DMT as a first drug. • Level of education, household income and marital status were inversely related to access to high efficacy DMT as first drug. • We describe a change over time to current pattern where the pwMS are treated equally with DMT in term of different measures of socioeconomic position. Several studies report an impact of socioeconomic factors on access to disease modifying treatment (DMT) in multiple sclerosis (MS), with a trend of less access to more deprived persons. We investigated the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on access to treatment in a well-defined Norwegian MS cohort. This is a study of a population-based Norwegian MS cohort. We collected detailed information on disease development, progression, and DMT administered. Socioeconomic data was obtained from Statistics Norway and a questionnaire. We included 1314 persons with relapsing remitting MS at the prevalence date 01/01/2018. The population ever treated with DMTs is younger at onset, has shorter time from onset to diagnosis and lower expanded disability status score (EDSS) at diagnosis. The persons with MS (pwMS) with the highest levels of education, and those who are married are more likely to be ever treated with DMT. In the subgroup treated with a high efficacy DMT as a first drug, the pwMS are younger at prevalence date (39.9 years (SD 12.1)) compared with those who are not treated with a high efficacy DMT as first drug (43.8 years (SD 10.3)). The subgroup treated with a high efficacy DMT as a first drug has a 0.5 point higher EDSS at diagnosis compared to those not treated with a high efficacy DMT as a first drug. The level of education, household income and marital status are inversely related to access to high efficacy DMT as a first drug. None of the above differences persist when analyzing the subgroup diagnosed within the last six years (2012-2017). Since 2012, the pwMS in this Norwegian cohort are treated equally with DMT in terms of different measures of socioeconomic position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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