Persistence and adherence in multiple sclerosis patients starting glatiramer acetate treatment: assessment of relationship with care received from multiple disciplines

Peter Joseph Jongen,1,2 Wim A Lemmens,3 Raymond Hupperts,4 Erwin LJ Hoogervorst,5 Hans M Schrijver,6 Astrid Slettenaar,7 Els L de Schryver,8 Jan Boringa,9 Esther van Noort,10 Rogier Donders3 1Department of Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Centre Groningen, University Groningen, Groningen, 2MS4 Research Institute, 3Department for Health Evidence, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, 4Department of Neurology, Zuijderland Medisch Centrum Sittard, Sittard, 5Department of Neurology, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, 6Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Westfries Gasthuis, Hoorn, 7Department of Neurology, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, 8Department of Neurology, Alrijne Ziekenhuis, Leiderdorp, 9Department of Neurology, Meander Medisch Centrum, Amersfoort, 10Curavista BV, Geertruidenberg, the Netherlands Background: In multiple sclerosis patients, the persistence of, and adherence to, disease-modifying treatment are often insufficient. The degree of persistence and adherence may relate to the care received from various disciplines. Methods: In an observational study of 203 patients treated with glatiramer acetate 20 mg subcutaneous daily, we assess the persistence and adherence in relation to the amount of care received in various disciplines. The frequencies and durations of care per discipline were reported by patients online, as were missed doses and eventual treatment discontinuation. The associations between the care provided by neurologists, nurses, psychologists, pharmacists, and rehabilitative doctors and persistence and adherence were the primary outcomes; the associations between care received from general practitioners, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, dieticians, home caregivers, informal caregivers, other medical specialists, and other caregivers and persistence and adherence were secondary outcomes. Results: It was found that the 12-month persistence rate was 62% and that 85% of the persistent patients were 95% adherent (missed