title: Increasing use of disease modifying drugs for MS in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The course of multiple sclerosis may be slowed by use of the disease modifying drugs (DMDs): subcutaneous or intramuscular interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, glatiramer acetate, and natalizumab. We set out to compare utilization of these drugs in the Canadian provinces from 2002-2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a retrospective cohort analysis, we reviewed population data from International Medical Statistics (IMS) Health between November 2001 and October 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total annual number of DMD prescriptions increased from 3.9, in 2002, to 5.1, in 2007, per 1,000 Canadians. The total annual cost of prescriptions rose from $187 million to $287 million. Of the four provinces responsible for the majority of prescriptions--Alberta, BC, Ontario, and Quebec--Quebec had the highest average annual prescription rate (7 per 1,000 population) and BC had the lowest rate (3.3 per 1,000 population). Subcutaneous interferon beta-1a was the most commonly used drug whereas glatiramer acetate showed the greatest growth in use from 2002 to 2007.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disease modifying drugs prescription rates and costs increased by more than 30% between 2002 and 2007. There was wide variation in DMD prescription rates and relative drug preferences across the provinces.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Dalia L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rotstein
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mamdani
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors