Adverse Events Associated with Use of Disease-Modifying Drugs in MS

Numerous randomized controlled trials have studied the efficacy of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, few studies of these drugs' safety have been done, and many of these were not independent of pharmaceutical companies. These investigators designed a multiregional, population-based, 22-year (March 1996 to March 2018) study of patients with MS to better understand the safety of seven different DMDs.

Using linked administrative data from four Canadian provinces, the researchers identified 35,849 individuals with MS. They used International Classification of Diseases codes to identify infection-related hospitalizations and physician visits, as well as adverse reactions. Although exposure to any DM…