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Interferon-β, a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for MS, may be associated with less severe COVID-19 in people with MS.Among 5,568 patients (83.4% confirmed COVID-19), interferon-treated patients had lower risk of severe COVID-19 compared to untreated, but not to glatiramer-acetate, dimethyl-fumarate, or pooled other DMTs.In comparison to other DMTs, we did not find evidence of protective effects of interferon-β on the severity of COVID-19, though compared to the untreated, the course of COVID19 was milder among those on interferon-β. This study does not support the use of interferon-β as a treatment to reduce COVID-19 severity in MS.

Background and Objectives Certain demographic and clinical characteristics, including the use of some disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), are associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection severity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Comprehensive exploration of these relationships in large international samples is needed.Methods Clinician-reported demographic/clinical data from 27 countries were aggregated into a data set of 5,648 patients with suspected/confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 severity outcomes (hospitalization, admission to intensive care unit [ICU], requiring artificial ventilation, and death) were assessed using multilevel mixed-effects ordered probit and logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, disability, and MS phenotype. DMTs were individually compared with glatiramer acetate, and anti-CD20 DMTs with pooled other DMTs and with natalizumab.Results Of 5,648 patients, 922 (16.6%) with suspected and 4,646 (83.4%) with confirmed COVID-19 were included. Male sex, older age, progressive MS, and higher disability were associated with more severe COVID-19. Compared with glatiramer acetate, ocrelizumab and rituximab were associated with higher probabilities of hospitalization (4% [95% CI 1–7] and 7% [95% CI 4–11]), ICU/artificial ventilation (2% [95% CI 0–4] and 4% [95% CI 2–6]), and death (1% [95% CI 0–2] and 2% [95% CI 1–4]) (predicted marginal effects). Untreated patients had 5% (95% CI 2–8), 3% (95% CI 1–5), and 1% (95% CI 0–3) higher probabilities of the 3 respective levels of COVID-19 severity than glatiramer acetate. Compared with pooled other DMTs and with natalizumab, the associations of ocrelizumab and rituximab with COVID-19 severity were also more pronounced. All associations persisted/enhanced on restriction to confirmed COVID-19.Discussion Analyzing the largest international real-world data set of people with MS with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 confirms that the use of anti-CD20 medication (both ocrelizumab and rituximab), as well as male sex, older age, progressive MS, and higher disability are associated with more severe course of COVID-19. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Certain demographic and clinical characteristics, including the use of some disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), are associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection severity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Comprehensive exploration of these relationships in large international samples is needed. METHODS: Clinician-reported demographic/clinical data from 27 countries were aggregated into a data set of 5,648 patients with suspected/confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 severity outcomes (hospitalization, admission to intensive care unit [ICU], requiring artificial ventilation, and death) were assessed using multilevel mixed-effects ordered probit and logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, disability, and MS phenotype. DMTs were individually compared with glatiramer acetate, and anti-CD20 DMTs with pooled other DMTs and with natalizumab. RESULTS: Of 5,648 patients, 922 (16.6%) with suspected and 4,646 (83.4%) with confirmed COVID-19 were included. Male sex, older age, progressive MS, and higher disability were associated with more severe COVID-19. Compared with glatiramer acetate, ocrelizumab and rituximab were associated with higher probabilities of hospitalization (4% [95% CI 1-7] and 7% [95% CI 4-11]), ICU/artificial ventilation (2% [95% CI 0-4] and 4% [95% CI 2-6]), and death (1% [95% CI 0-2] and 2% [95% CI 1-4]) (predicted marginal effects). Untreated patients had 5% (95% CI 2-8), 3% (95% CI 1-5), and 1% (95% CI 0-3) higher probabilities of the 3 respective levels of COVID-19 severity than glatiramer acetate. Compared with pooled other DMTs and with natalizumab, the associations of ocrelizumab and rituximab with COVID-19 severity were also more pronounced. All associations persisted/enhanced on restriction to confirmed COVID-19. DISCUSSION: Analyzing the largest international real-world data set of people with MS with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 confirms that the use of anti-CD20 medication (both ocrelizumab and rituximab), as well as male sex, older age, progressive MS, and higher disability are associated with more severe course of COVID-19.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare but severe neuroimmunological condition associated with a significant financial burden. NMOSD is also associated with increased health care utilization, including neurology outpatient visits, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) use, long-term medication, among others. We aimed to evaluate real-world patient experiences in access to care and NMOSD burden in an Argentinean cohort.This cross-sectional study used a self-administered survey and was conducted in Argentina (2022). Patients with NMOSD were divided into three groups: private health insurance (PHI), social health insurance (SHI), and public health insurance (PHI, Ministry of Public Health). Differences in access and health care barriers were assessed.One hundred patients with NMOSD (74 women) with a mean age at diagnosis of 38.7 years were included. Their EDSS was 2.8 and they were followed for 5.2 years. Of them, 51%, 11%, and 13% were employed (full-time: 57.5%), currently unemployed and retired by NMOSD, respectively. 55% of them visited between 2-3 specialists before NMOSD diagnosis. Aquaporin-4-antibody and/or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-antibody testing was requested in 91% (health insurance covered this partially in 15.3% and 32.9% of the time the test was entirely paid by patient/family). Patients with NMOSD receiving private medical care reported greater access to MRI, outpatient visits, and fewer issues to obtain NMOSD medications compared to those treated at public institutions. A longer mean time to MRI and neurology visit was found in the PHI group when compared with the other two subgroups. Regression analysis showed that private insurance (OR=3.84, p=0.01) was the only independent factor associated with appropriate access to NMOSD medications in Argentina.These findings suggest that barriers to access and utilization of NMOSD care services in Argentina are common. NMOSD patients experienced problems to receive NMOSD medication properly, especially those from the public sector.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 after complete vaccination in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) included in the Argentinean MS and NMOSD registry (RelevarEM, NCT03375177).cohort study conducted between May 2021 and December 2021. The primary outcome was the appearance of infection during the follow-up time (at least three months after complete vaccination (second dose)). Data was collected through the contact between the treating physician and the patient. Specific information was requested (date, symptoms, need for hospitalization, ventilatory assistance, treatment, and evolution). The contact was made every 30 days during the period of 3 months after the full dose vaccination. A positive COVID-19 case was defined according to the definition established by the Ministry of Health in Argentina. Cumulative incidence was reported by Kaplan Meier survival curves as well as incidence density.A total of 576 PwMS were included, mean age 45.2 ± 13 years, 432 (75%) RRMS, 403 (70%) were female. The mean and median time of follow-up after the second dose was 91 ± 17 and 94 ± 21 days respectively. Most frequent first and second dose received was Astra-Zeneca vaccine, followed by Sputnik V vaccine. During follow-up a total of twenty COVID-19 cases were observed for a total exposure time of 39,557 days. The overall cumulative incidence for the observed period was 3.4% (SE 0.4%) with an overall incidence density of 5 × 10.000 patients/day (95%CI 0.7-12). We observed more cases in woman than men with an incidence density of 6 × 10.000 patients/day (95%CI 0.9-9) vs. 3 × 10.000 patients/day (95%CI 0.2-6) respectively, but not significantly different (IRR 1.7 95% CI 0.56-7.37 p = 0.15).we found an incidence density of breakthrough COVID-19 infection of 5 × 10.000 patients/day (95%CI 0.7-12) after vaccination in Argentina.

Identification of triggers that potentially instigate attacks in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) has remained challenging. We aimed to analyze the seasonality of NMOSD and MS attacks in an Argentinean cohort seeking differences between the two disorders.A retrospective study was conducted in a cohort of NMOSD and MS patients followed in specialized centers from Argentina and enrolled in RelevarEM, a nationwide, longitudinal, observational, non-mandatory registry of MS/NMOSD patients. Patients with complete relapse data (date, month and year) at onset and during follow-up were included. Attack counts were analyzed by month using a Poisson regression model with the median monthly attack count used as reference.A total of 551 patients (431 MS and 120 NMOSD), experiencing 236 NMOSD-related attacks and 558 MS-related attacks were enrolled. The mean age at disease onset in NMOSD was 39.5 ± 5.8 vs. 31.2 ± 9.6 years in MS (p 0.01). Mean follow-up time was 6.1 ± 3.0 vs. 7.4 ± 2.4 years (p 0.01), respectively. Most of the included patients were female in both groups (79% vs. 60%, p 0.01). We found a peak of number of attacks in June (NMOSD: 28 attacks (11.8%) vs MS: 33 attacks (5.9%), incidence rate ratio 1.82, 95%CI 1.15-2.12, p = 0.03), but no differences were found across the months in both disorders when evaluated separately. Strikingly, we observed a significant difference in the incidence rate ratio of attacks during the winter season when comparing NMOSD vs. MS (NMOSD: 75 attacks (31.7%) vs MS: 96 attacks (17.2%), incidence rate ratio 1.82, 95%CI 1.21-2.01, p = 0.02) after applying Poisson regression model. Similar results were observed when comparing the seropositive NMOSD (n = 75) subgroup vs. MS.Lack of seasonal variation in MS and NMOSD attacks was observed when evaluated separately. Future epidemiological studies about the effect of different environmental factors on MS and NMOSD attacks should be evaluated prospectively in Latin America population.

Several factors have been associated with poor adherence to disease-modifying drugs (DMD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the adherence to DMD in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) in Argentina and Ecuador.A cross-sectional study was performed. The study was carried out between June 2020 and October 2020, and 303 PwMS treated with DMD were included. Patients undergoing immune reconstitution treatments were excluded. Two definitions of DMD adherence were previously determined. Adherence to MS treatments was assessed using the multiple sclerosis treatment adherence questionnaire (MS-TAQ). The logistic regression model was used to evaluate factors related to adherence, and p 0.05 was considered significant.The mean age at study entry for patients was 40.7 ± 11.2 years, 207 (68.3%) were female, and the mean EDSS score was 2.2 ± 1.9. The overall adherence in our sample was 78.1% (79.7% in Argentina and 76% Ecuador, p = 0.23). Patients using infusion therapies significantly more often belonged to the adherent group (p = 0.042). Sharing decision-making (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.7-6.9, p = 0.01), lower EDSS (OR = 0.8, 95% IC: 0.6-0.9, p = 0.004), and lower treatment duration (OR = 0.8, 95% IC: 0.6-0.9, p = 0.001) were independent predictors of adherence in our multivariate model.We found a prevalence of non-adherence similar to that previously reported. Furthermore, new factors associated with lower adherence were identified.

We aimed to describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), to compare HRQoL between NMOSD patients, multiple sclerosis (MS), and healthy controls (HC) and to study the associations between HRQoL and the clinical variables of the disease.A cross-sectional study was carried out. Patients with NMOSD seropositive, MS, and HC were enrolled and age-matched. The HRQoL was studied using the Argentinean validation of the SF-36 health questionnaire. Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed, as well as the EDSS and the total scores and subscales of the SF-36.243 individuals were included (NMOSD= 53, MS =100, and HC =90). The mean EDSS was 3.06 ± 2.01 in NMOSD and 2.67 ± 1.83 in MS with a mean of disease duration of 6.2 ± 4.4 and 6.3 ± 5.3 years, respectively. Significant statistical differences were observed in the total SF-36 score between both NMOSD and MS vs. HC (p0.01), but no differences were found when the total SF-36 score was compared between NMOSD vs. MS. Overall, NMOSD patients scored significantly lower in the total SF-36 and subscale scores compared to HC (p0.05). NMOSD patients also showed significant differences in bodily pain (58.8 ± 29.8 vs 75.1 ± 25.1, p0.01) and general health (44.4 ± 20.9 vs.31.9 ± 23.1, p0.01) when compared with MS, but no differences were found after comparing the rest of the subscales. We found that higher EDSS scores (β -1.28 p = 0.03) and disease duration (β 0.8, p = 0.02) were significantly associated to lower (worse) general health (dependent variable) score in NMOSD patients after having applied multiple linear regression analysis. Additionally, we observed that higher EDSS scores (β -10.2 p = 0.008) and the presence of relapses in the previous year (β -28.9, p = 0.02) were significantly associated to lower (worse) physical functioning (dependent variable) score.Pain seems to be a significant undertreated symptom in NMOSD patients that strongly impact on HRQoL. Patient-reported HRQoL scales scores provide comprehensive additional prognostic information beyond physical disability score.