Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide an insightful method of assessing the subjective impact of therapies for those affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurologic disease notable for symptoms of fatigue and reduced physical function. The ongoing CLAWIR study aims to assess the effect of cladribine tablets (3.5 mg/kg cumulative dose over 2 years) in patients with highly active relapsing MS focusing on PROs of fatigue, physical function, treatment satisfaction, and work productivity. Here, we report on a pre-planned analysis at 12 months after treatment initiation with cladribine tablets. METHODS: CLAWIR is a 2-year, multicenter, prospective, observational study of patients with relapsing MS newly initiating cladribine tablets. The following PROs were analyzed: PRO Measurement Information System (PROMIS(®)) Fatigue MS (v1.0) and Physical Function MS (v2.1), Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM, v1.4), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment MS Questionnaire (WPAI-MS). Data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: In total, 128 patients were eligible for analysis: 95 females (74.2%); median (range) age 34.5 (29, 44) years; 34 patients (26.6%) were treatment-naïve, and 89 (69.5%) were early switchers from platform therapies (the remaining 5 patients [3.9%] switched from a high-efficacy disease-modifying therapy). PROMIS(®) Fatigue MS mean (± standard deviation [SD]) T-scores decreased from 54.6 (± 9.59) at baseline to 51.8 (± 10.30) at 12 months, indicating an alleviation of fatigue, whereas PROMIS(®) Physical Function MS mean T-scores remained stable over time [baseline: 49.4 (± 10.69); 12 months: 50.3 (± 10.88)]. TSQM v1.4 mean scores indicated an improvement over time, increasing from 52.2 (± 27.79) at baseline to 81.4 (± 17.06) at 12 months for global satisfaction. WPAI-MS scores also showed an improvement across all four domains over 12 months. CONCLUSION: This real-world study demonstrates the effect of cladribine tablets over 12 months on PROs of fatigue, physical function, treatment satisfaction, and work productivity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The CLAWIR study is registered at the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices with the internal NIS number 7469.