Non‐interventional, prospective, observational study on spasticity‐associated symptom control with nabiximols as add‐on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in Austria

Abstract Background and purpose Randomized controlled trials and observational studies of nabiximols oromucosal spray in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity have shown improvement in a range of associated symptoms (pain, spasms, fatigue, bladder dysfunction, and sleep disturbances). Thi...

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Main Authors: Michael Guger, Robert Hatschenberger, Fritz Leutmezer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-04-01
Series:Brain and Behavior
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2947
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author Michael Guger
Robert Hatschenberger
Fritz Leutmezer
author_facet Michael Guger
Robert Hatschenberger
Fritz Leutmezer
author_sort Michael Guger
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background and purpose Randomized controlled trials and observational studies of nabiximols oromucosal spray in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity have shown improvement in a range of associated symptoms (pain, spasms, fatigue, bladder dysfunction, and sleep disturbances). This study evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of add‐on nabiximols in the routine management of patients with MS spasticity in Austria, with a focus on spasticity‐associated symptoms. Methods This was an open, prospective, multicenter, observational, non‐interventional study of patients with MS spasticity receiving add‐on treatment with nabiximols oromucosal spray. Main endpoints were patient‐reported changes from baseline in the frequency (counts) or severity (mean Numerical Rating Scale [NRS] scores) of spasticity‐associated symptoms, and patient‐reported changes from baseline in impairment of daily activities due to spasticity, after 1 and 3 months of nabiximols treatment. No analyses were conducted for statistical significance. Results There were 55 patients in the effectiveness population, and 62 in the safety population. Patients reported clinically relevant reductions from baseline to month 3 in the average number of spasms/day (−68.2%) and number of urinary incontinence episodes (−69.3%) in the week prior to the clinic visit, and reductions in mean 0−10 NRS scores for sleep impairment (−47.2%), fatigue (−26.4%), pain (40.4%), and spasticity severity (39.0%). There was no change from baseline in daily activity impairment due to spasticity. The majority of patients were at least partly satisfied with add‐on nabiximols for spasticity‐associated symptoms. There were 31 adverse events (27 treatment related) reported in 19 patients, with no new safety signals. Conclusions Add‐on nabiximols improved the severity of MS spasticity and a range of spasticity‐associated symptoms during real‐world use in Austria. Nabiximols is an option for patients with MS spasticity who fail first‐line oral antispasticity treatment.
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spelling doaj.art-56b987ad75cc44da85548cded692f9e72023-05-24T14:27:20ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792023-04-01134n/an/a10.1002/brb3.2947Non‐interventional, prospective, observational study on spasticity‐associated symptom control with nabiximols as add‐on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in AustriaMichael Guger0Robert Hatschenberger1Fritz Leutmezer2Department of Neurology Pyhrn‐Eisenwurzen Klinikum Steyr Steyr AustriaDepartment of Neurology Klinikum Bad Hall and Bad Schallerbach Bad Schallerbach AustriaDepartment of Neurology Medical University Vienna Vienna AustriaAbstract Background and purpose Randomized controlled trials and observational studies of nabiximols oromucosal spray in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) spasticity have shown improvement in a range of associated symptoms (pain, spasms, fatigue, bladder dysfunction, and sleep disturbances). This study evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of add‐on nabiximols in the routine management of patients with MS spasticity in Austria, with a focus on spasticity‐associated symptoms. Methods This was an open, prospective, multicenter, observational, non‐interventional study of patients with MS spasticity receiving add‐on treatment with nabiximols oromucosal spray. Main endpoints were patient‐reported changes from baseline in the frequency (counts) or severity (mean Numerical Rating Scale [NRS] scores) of spasticity‐associated symptoms, and patient‐reported changes from baseline in impairment of daily activities due to spasticity, after 1 and 3 months of nabiximols treatment. No analyses were conducted for statistical significance. Results There were 55 patients in the effectiveness population, and 62 in the safety population. Patients reported clinically relevant reductions from baseline to month 3 in the average number of spasms/day (−68.2%) and number of urinary incontinence episodes (−69.3%) in the week prior to the clinic visit, and reductions in mean 0−10 NRS scores for sleep impairment (−47.2%), fatigue (−26.4%), pain (40.4%), and spasticity severity (39.0%). There was no change from baseline in daily activity impairment due to spasticity. The majority of patients were at least partly satisfied with add‐on nabiximols for spasticity‐associated symptoms. There were 31 adverse events (27 treatment related) reported in 19 patients, with no new safety signals. Conclusions Add‐on nabiximols improved the severity of MS spasticity and a range of spasticity‐associated symptoms during real‐world use in Austria. Nabiximols is an option for patients with MS spasticity who fail first‐line oral antispasticity treatment.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2947multiple sclerosisnabiximolsobservational studyspasticity‐associated symptoms
spellingShingle Michael Guger
Robert Hatschenberger
Fritz Leutmezer
Non‐interventional, prospective, observational study on spasticity‐associated symptom control with nabiximols as add‐on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in Austria
Brain and Behavior
multiple sclerosis
nabiximols
observational study
spasticity‐associated symptoms
title Non‐interventional, prospective, observational study on spasticity‐associated symptom control with nabiximols as add‐on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in Austria
title_full Non‐interventional, prospective, observational study on spasticity‐associated symptom control with nabiximols as add‐on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in Austria
title_fullStr Non‐interventional, prospective, observational study on spasticity‐associated symptom control with nabiximols as add‐on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in Austria
title_full_unstemmed Non‐interventional, prospective, observational study on spasticity‐associated symptom control with nabiximols as add‐on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in Austria
title_short Non‐interventional, prospective, observational study on spasticity‐associated symptom control with nabiximols as add‐on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in Austria
title_sort non interventional prospective observational study on spasticity associated symptom control with nabiximols as add on therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis spasticity in austria
topic multiple sclerosis
nabiximols
observational study
spasticity‐associated symptoms
url https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2947
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