Abstract
Background: Disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) are well characterized and widely used in Western countries where the incidence and the prevalence of the disease is high. In China, however, the current treatment patterns of MS patients are not well characterized.
Objective: To explore the gap between the current treatments in China and those given in Western countries.
Methods: We performed a survey of MS patients at our center concerning treatments of MS in China.
Results: Among the 178 patients studied, 50(28.09%) received initial treatment with DMTs, 97 patients (54.49%) received initial treatment with non-DMTs instead, and 31 patients (17.42%) received no therapy. Of the 46 MS patients who were initially treated with first-line DMTs, 15 had discontinued the treatment, and 14 had switched to other drugs. The main reasons for withdrawal of first-line DMTs were doctor’s advice (maintenance of remission) in 6 of the 15 patients (40.00%), economic burden in 3 (20.00%), and no channels to buy drugs in 2 (13.33%). The main reasons for drug switching (n = 14) were inefficacy in 6 patients (42.86%), no channels to buy drugs in 4 (28.57%), and economic burden in 3 (21.43%). In MS patients initially treated with first-line DMTs who switched to other drugs, a gap between treatments was common (8/14; 57.14%).
Conclusion: Treatment of MS with DMTs in China appears to lag behind that in Western countries. Much work is needed to improve drug accessibility and affordability of DMTs in China.