A plain language summary on taking medication as prescribed for multiple sclerosis: impact on relapses, disability, and healthcare costs

What is this summary about? People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may struggle to take their medication as prescribed (treatment adherence), which might impact long-term disease outcomes and healthcare costs. To understand more about the relationship between treatment adherence and disease/cost outcomes, the researchers evaluated insurance claims in the United States from more than 8000 adults with MS between 2011 and 2017. How was the analysis carried out? In this analysis, researchers compared MS disease relapse rates and indicators of disability such as the use of canes, walkers, or wheelchairs as well as healthcare costs among people who took their medication as prescribed (were adherent) and those who did not (were non-adherent). What were the results? People with MS who were non-adherent to their prescribed medication had higher relapse rates and shorter times to first relapse, cane or walker use, and wheelchair use compared with people who were adherent to their medication. Also, people who were non-adherent had higher overall healthcare costs than those who were adherent. What do the results mean? These findings suggest that non-adherence to treatment prescribed for MS increases the risk of relapse, need for cane, walker, or wheelchair use, and healthcare costs.