EVASEP: A Noninterventional Study Describing the Perception of Neurologists, Patients, and Caregivers on Caregivers’ Role in the Support of Patients Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis Treated with Subcutaneous Interferon Beta 1a
Table 1
Patients’ and caregivers’ characteristics.
Caregivers ()
Patients ()
Age (years)
43.0 (10.9)3
40.6 (9.3)
18–39
73 (48.3%)
40–60
73 (48.3%)
>60
5 (3.3%)
Gender: female
62 (41.6%)2
104 (68.9%)
Professional activity
125 (83.9%)2
100 (66.7%)1
Living in couples
136 (92.5%)4
134 (89.9%)2
With children at home
90 (61.2%)4
94 (63.1%)
Relationship
With the patient
With the caregiver
Spouse/husband
127 (84.7%)
127 (85.2%)
Child
10 (6.7%)
5 (3.4%)
Friend
5 (3.3%)
5 (3.4%)
Relative
4 (2.7%)
9 (6.0%)
Other
4 (2.7%)
3 (2.0%)
Understanding of the disease
5.7 (2.7)
6.5 (2.2)
Knowledge of available treatments
5.2 (2.8)
6.2 (2.5)
Fears of disease progression
7.6 (2.2)
7.4 (2.2)
Sufficient medical information
5.8 (2.5)
6.9 (2.3)
Time since first symptoms (years)
9.5 (5.6)
Time since diagnosis (years)
7.7 (4.9)
Number of relapses in the last two years
0.9 (1.1)
Time since last relapse (years)
2.6 (2.4)
Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)µ
2.0 (1–3)
0.0–3.0
116 (76.8%)
3.5–4.5
22 (14.6%)
5.0–6.5
13 (8.6%)
Symptomatic treatments
98 (64.9%)
Analgesics
64 (42.3%)
Antidepressants
29 (19.2%)
Sphincter disorder treatments
20 (13.2%)
Antispastics
18 (11.9%)
Antiasthenics
10 (10.2%)
Mean (SD); (%) percentages are calculated for documented values; assessed using 10 cm visual analogue scales; µmedian (quartiles). Number of missing values.
