Mortality Benefit in Multiple Sclerosis with Interferon β

Among patients enrolled in the pivotal interferon β-1b trial, a mortality benefit was observed (NEJM JW Neurol Jul 2012 and Neurology 2012; 78:1315. Investigators used a population-based, case–control approach involving data on 5989 treatment-naive patients from two countries.

During an average follow-up of 11 years, 742 people died (case patients), at a mean age of 61. Of these cases, 649 were matched with 8412 “controls” with MS who had not died. After adjusting for age and other disease modifying therapy exposure, patients who died had a lower odds of interferon β-1b exposure (odds ratio, 0.68). Those with at least 3 years of interferon-β 1b exposure had increased survival; those with 6 months to 3 years of exposure did not. Glatiramer ac…