Adherence to Multiple Sclerosis Disease-Modifying Therapies in Ontario is Low

Wong et al. Can J Neurol Sci. 2011 May;38(3):429-33.

Patient adherence to various disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in the treatment of MS is a major problem. Cumulative persistence rates for all four injectable DMDs were similar over time and ranged from 73.6-79.1% at six months, 59.1-63.1% at one year and 41.5-47.4% at two years. Adherence to DMDs in adult MS patients is poor, which is consistent with previously reported adherence rates to MS DMDs in other regions.

"This is a major problem and may explain why these drugs are not that effective in routine day-to-day clinical practice. Hopefully, the emerging DMTs and wide adoption of expert patient programmes will improve this dismal situation."