Spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis--clinical characteristics, treatment and quality of life

Aims: To gain real-life data on demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, treatment satisfaction and quality-of-life of multiple sclerosis-related spasticity (MSS) in Germany.

Material and methods: MObility ImproVEment (MOVE 1), a cross-sectional burden-of-disease study, combines retrospective 12-month chart documentation with questionnaires for both, patients and physicians. Data were collected at office-based neurologists, MS outpatient clinics and rehabilitation centres in Germany. Structured documentation forms, questionnaires and validated instruments were used for data collection. Patients with mild to severe MSS were included. Participants documented the clinical characteristics, impact of MSS on daily living, quality-of-life, treatment patterns and satisfaction with available drug treatment stratified by severity of MSS. Severity was assessed by patients and physicians.

Results: Of 419 patients enrolled at 42 centres from 4/2011 to 9/2011, 414 were available for analysis (mean age: 48.5 years; female: 64%). Most disturbing symptoms associated with spasticity reported by physicians and patients were stiffness (74%) and mobility restrictions (66%). Mean EQ-5D score fell from 0.6 to 0.3 with increasing severity of spasticity, while percentage of subjects with spasticity-related impairment of activities every day rose from 10% in patients with mild to 85% in patients with severe spasticity. At time of enrolment, 55% of patients received pharmacotherapy and 78% physiotherapy. These percentages increased with increasing severity (drugs: 39-84%; physiotherapy: 65-86%). Overall, 41% of physicians and 36% of patients were partial dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the effectiveness of available anti-spastic pharmacotherapy.

Conclusions: Spasticity and its symptoms impair personal well-being and quality-of-life. Treatment of spasticity with drugs and physiotherapy is common, but satisfaction with the currently available anti-spastic pharmacotherapy is low.