Adherence to interferon β-1b treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis in Spain

Oscar Fernández, Eduardo Agüera, Guillermo Izquierdo, Jorge Millán-Pascual, Lluis Ramió I Torrentà, Pedro Oliva, Joaquin Argente, Yasmina Berdei, Jose Maria Soler, Olga Carmona, Jose Maria Errea, Jordi Farrés, Group on Adherence to IFNb-1b in Spain, Oscar Fernández, Eduardo Agüera, Guillermo Izquierdo, Jorge Millán-Pascual, Lluis Ramió I Torrentà, Pedro Oliva, Joaquin Argente, Yasmina Berdei, Jose Maria Soler, Olga Carmona, Jose Maria Errea, Jordi Farrés, Group on Adherence to IFNb-1b in Spain

Abstract

Background: Adherence to interferon β-1b (INFβ-1b) therapy is essential to maximize the beneficial effects of treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS). For that reason, the main objectives of this study are to assess adherence to INFβ-1b in patients suffering from MS in Spain, and to identify the factors responsible for adherence in routine clinical practice.

Methodology/principal findings: This was an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study including 120 Spanish patients with MS under INFβ-1b treatment. Therapeutic adherence was assessed with Morisky-Green test and with the percentage of doses received. The proportion of adherent patients assessed by Morisky-Green test was 68.3%, being indicative of poor adherence. Nevertheless, the percentage of doses received, which was based on the number of injected medication, was 94.3%. The main reason for missing INFβ-1b injections was forgetting some of the administrations (64%). Therefore, interventions that diminish forgetfulness might have a positive effect in the proportion of adherent patients and in the percentage of doses received. In addition, age and comorbidities had a significant effect in the number of doses injected per month, and should be considered in the management of adherence in MS patients.

Conclusion/significance: Among all the available methods for assessing adherence, the overall consumption of the intended dose has to be considered when addressing adherence.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: This study was supported by Química Farmacéutica Bayer S.L.and RPS Research Ibérica. RPS Research Ibérica helped in the statistical analysis. The corresponding author (Oscar Fernández, MD, PhD) has received honoraria as consultant in advisory boards, and as chairmen or lecturer in meetings (Bayer-Schering; Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, TevA, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis).He has also participated in clinical trials and other research projects sponsored by Bayer-Schering; Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, TevA, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis. The author (Olga Carmona, MD, PhD) has received honoraria as consultant in advisory boards, and as a lecturer in meetings (Bayer-Schering; Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, TevA, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis). She has also participated in clinical trials and other research projects sponsored by Bayer-Schering; Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, Teva, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis. The remaining authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLoS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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