title: Effectiveness of glatiramer acetate compared to other multiple sclerosis therapies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of glatiramer acetate (GA) compared to other multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies in routine clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational cohort study carried out in MS patients treated with GA (GA cohort) or other MS therapies -switched from GA- (non-GA cohort). Study data were obtained through review of our MS patient database. The primary endpoint was the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores reached at the end of treatment/last check-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 180 patients were included: GA cohort n = 120, non-GA cohort n = 60. Patients in the GA cohort showed better EDSS scores at the end of treatment/last check-up (mean ± SD, 2.8 ± 1.8 vs. 3.9 ± 2.2; P = 0.001) and were 1.65 times more likely to show better EDSS scores compared to the non-GA cohort (odds ratio, 0.606; 95%CI, 0.436-0.843; P = 0.003). Patients in the GA cohort showed longer mean time to reach EDSS scores of 6 (209.1 [95%CI, 187.6-230.6] vs. 164.3 [95% CI, 137.0-191.6] months; P = 0.004) and slower disability progression (hazard ratio, 0.415 [95%CI, 0.286-0.603]; P < 0.001). The annualized relapse rate was lower in the GA cohort (mean ± SD, 0.5 ± 0.5 vs. 0.8 ± 0.5; P = 0.001) and patients' quality of life was improved in this study cohort compared to the non-GA cohort (mean ± SD, 0.7 ± 0.1 vs. 0.6 ± 0.2; P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GA may slow down the progression of EDSS scores to a greater extent than other MS therapies, as well as achieving a greater reduction in relapses and a greater improvement in patients' quality of life. Switching from GA to other MS therapies has not proved to entail a better response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena Avenida Dr. Fedriani, 3, 41009, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.affiliation: Chair of Health Economics and Rational Drug Use, School of Medicine, University of Málaga Boulevard Louis Pasteur, 32, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: García-Agua Soler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena Avenida Dr. Fedriani, 3, 41009, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rus
authors.affiliation: Chair of Health Economics and Rational Drug Use, School of Medicine, University of Málaga Boulevard Louis Pasteur, 32, 29071, Málaga, Spain ; Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Málaga Boulevard Louis Pasteur, 32, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: García-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate
keywords: Clinical practice; effectiveness; glatiramer acetate; multiple sclerosis; therapy; treatment