Cause of death in MS: long-term follow-up of a randomised cohort, 21 years after the start of the pivotal IFNβ-1b study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Compared with controls, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients die, on average, 7-14 years prematurely. Previously, we reported that, 21 years after their participation in the pivotal randomised, controlled trial (RCT) of interferon β-1b, mortality was reduced by 46-47% in the two groups who received active therapy during the RCT. To determine whether the excessive deaths observed in placebo-treated patients was due to MS-related causes, we analysed the causes-of-death (CODs) in these three, randomised, patient cohorts.

Design

Long-term follow-up (LTF) of the pivotal RCT of interferon β-1b.

Setting

Eleven North American MS-centres participated.

Participants

In the original RCT, 372 patients participated, of whom 366 (98.4%) were identified after a median o

SUBMITTER: Goodin DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3533062 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature