Measuring MS Fatigue in a Real-World Setting: Allitia DiBernardo, MD

"It suggest that disease-modifying therapies that address the disease activity in MS and worsening in fatigue can yield considerably positive effect on outcomes in patients with MS.”

At the ACTRIMS Forum 2021, February 25-27, Janssen Pharmaceutical presented 2 abstracts that focused on the impact of fatigue symptoms in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The first of the 2 measured the symptoms using the RMS-specific Fatigue Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire-Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (FSIQ-RMS) in a real-world population study that included 300 patients with RMS.^1,2

The second study evaluated the impact these symptoms have on work productivity and activity impairment using longitudinal data from the phase 3 OPTIMUM study (NCT02425644). Both studies highlighted the burden that fatigue has among patients with MS and how it can influence a patient’s daily functioning and life. Additionally, they both echo the need to construct disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to treat this symptom, an area that currently has no specific treatment options available.

In the midst of this year’s virtual meeting, Allitia DiBernardo, MD, global head of medical affairs, neurology, Janssen Pharmaceutical, sat down with NeurologyLive to discuss the 2 studies in detail and the significance of the findings.

For more coverage of ACTRIMS 2021, click here.

REFERENCES

1. Azoulai M, Levy-Heidmann T, Morisseau, et al. Measuring the symptoms and impacts of fatigue in adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis using a novel disease specific scale: a real-world study in US population. Presented at ACTRIMS Forum 2021; February 25–27, 2021. Abstract P206

2. Keenan A, Le H, Pelligra C, et al. Evaluating the impact of fatigue symptoms on work productivity and activity impairment using longitudinal data from the phase 3 OPTIMUM study. Presented at ACTRIMS Forum 2021; February 25–27, 2021. Abstract P201