Early vs. late treatment initiation in multiple sclerosis and its impact on cost of illness: A register-based prospective cohort study in Sweden

BACKGROUND: Early treatment with disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with lower disability progression; the aim was to explore its association with cost of illness (COI) in MS. METHODS: All people with relapsing-remitting MS in the Swedish MS register, aged 20–57 years and receiving their first MS DMT in 2006–2009, were followed in nationwide registers for 8 years. Healthcare costs (in- and outpatient healthcare, DMTs and other prescribed drugs), and productivity losses (sickness absence and disability pension) of individuals receiving therapy in ≤6 months after diagnosis (early treatment group) were compared to those receiving therapy >6 months (late treatment group). Using Poisson regressions, the mean COI per patient per year, and per group, was estimated, adjusted for disability progression. RESULTS: The early treatment group comprised 74% of the 1562 individuals included in the study. The early treatment group had lower productivity losses over time. Both groups had similar healthcare costs, which first increased and then decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Early DMT in MS could result in lower productivity losses possibly through maintained work capacity. COI serves as an objective measure showing the advantage of early vs. late treatment initiation in MS.