Risk tolerance to MS therapies: Survey results from the NARCOMS registry.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There is little information about risk acceptance of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to various MS therapies.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine MS patients׳ tolerance to risky therapies and identify associated characteristics.

METHODS:

MS patients from the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry׳s online cohort were invited to complete questionnaires on decision making and risk tolerance (RT) to two therapeutic scenarios: a theoretical cure for MS [CureMS], with permanent reversal of all MS symptoms but a risk of immediate painless death; and natalizumab [NAT], a real-life scenario with benefits and risks as defined by Phase III trial results.

RESULTS:

The median RT for both scenarios was 1:10,000; 15-23% of respondents were not willing to take any risk for their MS therapy. Participants with greater disability or not taking any MS therapy showed a greater RT, while females and those caring for dependents had a lower RT. Females and older age were predictors of lower RT, while increasing disability and greater blunting attitude with respect to information seeking behavior were predictors of higher RT.

CONCLUSION:

MS patients displayed a wide range of RT for MS therapies. Our study identified gender, age, disability and information seeking behavior to be associated with RT.

• Authors: Robert J Fox, Amber Salter, Joan M Alster, Neal V Dawson, Michael W Kattan, Deborah Miller, Sneha Ramesh, Tuula Tyry, Brian W Wells, Gary Cutter
• Journal: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders (Mult Scler Relat Disord) Vol. 4 Issue 3 Pg. 241-9 (May 2015) ISSN: 2211-0356 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 26008941 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Immunologic Factors
• Natalizumab

Topics

• Decision Making
• Female
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multiple Sclerosis (psychology, therapy)
• Natalizumab (therapeutic use)
• Registries
• Risk
• Surveys and Questionnaires