Defining a standard set of health outcomes for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Standardizing health outcomes is challenging in clinical management, but it also holds the potential for creating a healthcare system that is both more effective and efficient. The aim of the present study is to define a standardized set of health outcomes for managing Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS).
Methods: The project was led and coordinated by a multidisciplinary scientific committee (SC), which included a literature review, a patient-focused group, three nominal group meetings, and two SC meetings.
Results: 36 outcome variables were included in the standard set: 24 clinical (including weight, smoking habit, comorbidities, disability, mobility, diagnosis of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, relapsed-related variables, radiological variables, cognitive status and disease-related symptoms), nine treatment-related (pharmacological and non-pharmacological information), and 3 related to the impact of RRMS on the patient's life (quality of life, pregnancy desire, work-related difficulties). In addition, experts also agreed to collect 10 case-mix variables that may affect but cannot be controlled as part of the management of the condition: 4 sociodemographic (age, sex, race, and employment status) and 6 clinical (height, date of diagnosis and first episode, serological status, early symptoms, and number of relapses pre-diagnosis).
Conclusion: The information provided through the present standard set of outcome variables can improve the management of RRMS and promote patient-centred quality care.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest MLG has received fees from the following pharmaceutical companies for his participation in advisory groups, talks, workshops, seminars, conferences, studies or clinical trials: Bayer, Biogen, Teva, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Almirall, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merk and Janssen. PCR has served as a speaker for several pharmaceutical companies. ODS reports fees as a study investigator with Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb. MB declares relationships with Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche and Biogen. ARA has participated in scientific consultancies and has been a speaker at scientific meetings organized by Merk, Biogen, Novartis, Sanofi, Teva and Bristol Myers Squibb. AMB has no conflicts of interest to disclose. NBR declares relationships with Roche, Merck, Biogen, Sanofi, Janssen and Bristol Myers Squibb. AR serves on scientific advisory boards for Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Synthetic MR, Tensor Medical, Roche, Biogen, and OLEA Medical and has received speaker honoraria from Bayer, Sanofi-Genzyme, Merck-Serono, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Novartis, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Biogen. AR is also a member of the editorial boards of Neurology and Neuroradiology and the executive committee of MAGNIMS. VML has not declared conflicts of interest. LBP and MC are employees of Outcomes 10, an independent research entity that has received fees from Bristol Myers Squibb for conducting this research. DV and AE are employees and may be shareholders of Bristol Myers Squibb. CO-G has received speaker and consultation fees from Alexion, Biogen Idec, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme and Teva.
(Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)