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Expanded disability status scale progression assessment heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis according to geographical areas
Author(s) -
Bovis Francesca,
Signori Alessio,
Carmisciano Luca,
Maietta Ilaria,
Steinerman Joshua R.,
Li Thomas,
Tansy Aaron P.,
Sormani Maria Pia
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.25323
Subject(s) - expanded disability status scale , multiple sclerosis , psychological intervention , medicine , placebo , randomized controlled trial , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , psychiatry , pathology , alternative medicine
Using placebo data from 3 randomized multiple sclerosis (MS) trials with uniform inclusion criteria, we investigated heterogeneity of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression by geographical areas. Our analysis revealed a significantly lower EDSS progression in Eastern European countries (10.8%) compared with Western Europe (13.1%) or the USA/Canada (21.4%, p < 0.001); EDSS improvement behaved the same way. This heterogeneity is not explained by differences of baseline variables. No differences were detected on more easily quantifiable measures, the Timed 25‐Foot Walk or the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite. At a time when disease progression represents the target for future interventions in MS, establishment of more quantitative and objective outcomes remains a key priority of MS research. Ann Neurol 2018;84:621–625