title: Exploratory analysis of predictors of patient adherence to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in multiple sclerosis: TRACER study.
abstract: The TRACER multicenter retrospective study aimed to collect data on treatment adherence in a real-life setting, in order to identify predictors of adherence at baseline.
  
  
  
  We recruited 384 relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis patients with at least 12 months of use of RebiSmart®. This electronic device records the performed injections and assesses adherence as the percentage of 'not missing doses', through the connection to the iMed database. Subjects with at least 80% of completed doses at the 12 month of therapy were defined 'treatment adherents'.
  
  
  
  After 12 months, 89.3% of patients were adherent; 93.2% of patients aged 26-40 years at baseline were adherent (vs 79% of the ≤25 and 87.5% of the ≥41 year olds; p = 0.006). Furthermore, 90.5% of patients with a baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score <4 showed ≥80% adherence (vs 71.4% in those with EDSS score ≥4; p = 0.016). Fifty-four percent of the patients who were not adherent after 3 months were also not adherent after 12 months (OR 16.8; CI 95%:7.1-39.8).
  
  
  
  Patients aged 26-40 years and with an EDSS score <4 at baseline were the most adherent. The status of 'treatment adherent' in the first 3 months was predictive of higher adherence in the long term.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs , University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paolicelli
authors.affiliation: b Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Public Health, Clinical Molecular Medicine , University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.affiliation: a Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs , University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Lecce
authors.affiliation: a Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs , University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Vita
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Direnzo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute , University of Milan , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moiola
authors.affiliation: d Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences , Federico II University - School of Medicine , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanzillo
authors.affiliation: e Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region, Department of Neurosciences , University Hospital of Padua , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perini
authors.affiliation: f Neurologia 2 - CRESM , A.O.U. San Luigi Gonzaga , Orbassano , Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malucchi
authors.affiliation: g Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, S. Andrea Hospital , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borriello
authors.affiliation: h Department of NEUROFARBA , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Portaccio
authors.affiliation: i L'altrastatistica srl - Consultancy & Training , Biostatistics office , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Panetta
authors.affiliation: b Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Public Health, Clinical Molecular Medicine , University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fenu
authors.affiliation: c Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute , University of Milan , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sangalli
authors.affiliation: e Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region, Department of Neurosciences , University Hospital of Padua , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cacciaguerra
authors.affiliation: a Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs , University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trojano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000068556:Interferon beta-1a
keywords: Disease-modifying drugs; interferon beta; patient adherence; real-life setting; rebismart® injection device; relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis