Real-World Adherence to OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment for Spasticity: Insights From the ASPIRE Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify baseline characteristics and treatment-related variables that affect adherence to onabotulinumtoxinA treatment from the Adult Spasticity International Registry (ASPIRE) study. DESIGN: Prospective, observational registry (NCT01930786). SETTING: International clinical sites. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with spasticity (N=730). INTERVENTIONS: OnabotulinumtoxinA at clinician's discretion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinically meaningful thresholds used for treatment adherent (≥3 treatment sessions during 2-year study) and nonadherent (≤2 sessions). Data analyzed using logistic regression and presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Treatment-related variables assessed at sessions 1 and 2 only. RESULTS: Of the total population, 523 patients (71.6%) were treatment adherent with 5.3±1.6 sessions and 207 (28.4%) were nonadherent with 1.5±0.5 sessions. In the final model (n=626/730), 522 patients (83.4%) were treatment adherent and 104 (16.6%) were nonadherent. Baseline characteristics associated with adherence: treated in Europe (OR=1.84; CI, 1.06-3.21; P=.030) and use of orthotics (OR=1.88; CI, 1.15-3.08; P=.012). Baseline characteristics associated with nonadherence: history of diplopia (OR=0.28; CI, 0.09-0.89; P=.031) and use of assistive devices (OR=0.51; CI, 0.29-0.90; P=.021). Treatment-related variables associated with nonadherence: treatment interval ≥15 weeks (OR=0.43; CI, 0.26-0.72; P=.001) and clinician dissatisfaction with onabotulinumtoxinA to manage pain (OR=0.18; CI, 0.05-0.69; P=.012). Of the population with stroke (n=411), 288 patients (70.1%) were treatment adherent with 5.3±1.6 sessions and 123 (29.9%) were nonadherent with 1.5±0.5 session. In the final stroke model (n=346/411), 288 patients (83.2%) were treatment adherent and 58 (16.8%) were nonadherent. Baseline characteristics associated with adherence: treated in Europe (OR=2.99; CI, 1.39-6.44; P=.005) and use of orthotics (OR=3.18; CI, 1.57-6.45; P=.001). Treatment-related variables associated with nonadherence: treatment interval ≥15 weeks (OR=0.42; CI, 0.21-0.83; P=.013) and moderate/severe disability on upper limb Disability Assessment Scale pain subscale (OR=0.40; CI, 0.19-0.83; P=.015). CONCLUSIONS: These ASPIRE analyses demonstrate real-world patient and clinical variables that affect adherence to onabotulinumtoxinA and provide insights to help optimize management strategies to improve patient care.

Long-Term Observational Results from the ASPIRE Study: OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment for Adult Lower Limb Spasticity.

INTRODUCTION: OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment for spasticity varies according to numerous factors and is individualized to meet treatment goals. OBJECTIVE: To explore real-world onabotulinumtoxinA utilization and effectiveness in patients with lower limb spasticity from the Adult Spasticity International Registry (ASPIRE) study. DESIGN: Two-year, multicenter, prospective, observational registry (NCT01930786). SETTING: Fifty-four international clinical sites. PATIENTS: Adults (naïve or non-naïve to botulinum toxin[s] treatment for spasticity, across multiple etiologies) with lower limb spasticity related to upper motor neuron syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: OnabotulinumtoxinA administered at the clinician's discretion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment utilization, clinician- and patient-reported satisfaction. RESULTS: In ASPIRE, 530 patients received ≥1 onabotulinumtoxinA treatment for lower limb spasticity (mean age, 52 years; stroke, 49.4%; multiple sclerosis, 20.4%). Equinovarus foot was treated most often (80.9% of patients), followed by flexed knee (26.0%), stiff extended knee (22.5%), and flexed toes (22.3%). OnabotulinumtoxinA doses ranged between 10 and 1100 U across all presentations. Electromyography (EMG) was most commonly used for injection localization (≥41.1% of treatment sessions). Despite low patient response on the satisfaction questionnaire, clinicians (94.6% of treatment sessions) and patients (84.5%) reported satisfaction/extreme satisfaction that treatment helped manage spasticity, and clinicians (98.3%) and patients (91.6%) would probably/definitely continue onabotulinumtoxinA treatment. These data should be interpreted with care. Twenty-one adverse events (AEs) in 18 patients (3.4%) were considered treatment-related. Sixty-seven patients (12.6%) reported 138 serious AEs; 3 serious AEs in two patients (0.4%) were considered treatment-related. No new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSIONS: ASPIRE provides long-term observational data on the treatment of lower limb spasticity with onabotulinumtoxinA. Real-world data from this primary analysis can help to guide the clinical use of onabotulinumtoxinA to improve spasticity management.

High clinician- and patient-reported satisfaction with individualized onabotulinumtoxinA treatment for spasticity across several etiologies from the ASPIRE study.

Etiology-specific onabotulinumtoxinA utilization to manage spasticity is largely unknown. In this 1-year interim analysis, we evaluated real-world onabotulinumtoxinA utilization and effectiveness across several etiologies from the Adult Spasticity International Registry (ASPIRE) study. ASPIRE is a multicenter, prospective, observational registry (NCT01930786) examining stroke, multiple sclerosis [MS], cerebral palsy [CP], traumatic brain injury [TBI], and spinal cord injury [SCI] patients with spasticity treated with onabotulinumtoxinA at the clinician's discretion. Assessments included onabotulinumtoxinA utilization (each session), clinician (subsequent session)/patient (5±1 weeks post-treatment) satisfaction, and the Disability Assessment Scale (DAS; subsequent session). 730 patients received ≥1 onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, with 37% naïve to botulinum toxin(s) for spasticity. The most common etiology was stroke (n=411, 56%), followed by MS (N=119, 16%), CP (N=77, 11%), TBI (N=45, 6%), and SCI (N=42, 6%). The total body mean cumulative dose (±SD) of onabotulinumtoxinA per session ranged from 296 U (±145) in CP to 406 U (±152) in TBI. The most commonly treated upper limb presentations were clenched fist (stroke, MS, and SCI), flexed wrist (CP), and flexed elbow (TBI). Equinovarus foot was the most commonly treated lower limb presentation in all etiologies. Stroke patients showed improved DAS scores for nearly all subscales in both limbs, indicative of improved global function. All etiologies showed improved lower limb mobility DAS scores. Across all sessions, clinicians (range: 87.4% [SCI]-94.2% [CP]) and patients (range: 67.6% [TBI]-89.7% [SCI]) reported extreme satisfaction/satisfaction that onabotulinumtoxinA helped manage spasticity, and clinicians (range: 94.6% [TBI]-98.8% [CP]) and patients (range: 88.4% [stroke]-91.2% [TBI]) would definitely/probably continue treatment. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and treatment-related serious adverse events (TRSAEs) were reported as follows: stroke: 10 TRAEs (2.2% patients), 3 TRSAEs (0.5%); MS: 5 TRAEs (4.2%), 0 TRSAEs; CP: 0 TRAEs, 0 TRSAEs; TBI: 1 TRAEs (2.2%), 0 TRSAEs; SCI: 0 TRAEs, 0 TRSAEs. No new safety signals were identified. High clinician- and patient-reported satisfaction were observed following individualized onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, as well as improved global function. Interim results from ASPIRE demonstrate etiology-specific similarities and differences in clinical approaches to manage spasticity.

Individualized OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment for Upper Limb Spasticity Resulted in High Clinician- and Patient-Reported Satisfaction: Long-Term Observational Results from the ASPIRE Study.

INTRODUCTION: OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment for spasticity is dependent on numerous factors and varies according to selected treatment goals. OBJECTIVE: To examine real-world onabotulinumtoxinA treatment utilization and effectiveness in patients with upper limb spasticity over 2 years from the Adult Spasticity International Registry (ASPIRE) study. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, observational registry (NCT01930786). SETTING: Fifty-four international clinical sites in North America, Europe, and Asia. PATIENTS: Adults (naïve or non-naïve to botulinum toxins for spasticity) with upper limb focal spasticity related to upper motor neuron syndrome across multiple etiologies. INTERVENTIONS: OnabotulinumtoxinA administered at clinician's discretion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: OnabotulinumtoxinA utilization, clinician and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-four patients received ≥1 treatment of onabotulinumtoxinA for upper limb spasticity. Patients were on average 55.1 years old, 50.8% male, predominantly Caucasian (72.3%), and 38.6% were naïve to botulinum toxins. Stroke was the most frequently reported underlying etiology (74.0%). Most patients (81.2%) had moderate to severe spasticity at baseline. The most commonly treated upper limb clinical presentation was clenched fist (79.1% of patients). Across all presentations, onabotulinumtoxinA doses ranged between 5-600U. Electromyography (EMG) was most often utilized to localize muscles (≥57.0% of treatment sessions). Clinicians (92.9% of treatment sessions) and patients (85.7%) reported being extremely satisfied/satisfied that treatment helped manage spasticity, and clinicians (98.6%) and patients (92.2%) would definitely/probably continue onabotulinumtoxinA treatment. One hundred seventy-nine patients (37.0%) reported 563 adverse events (AEs); 15 AEs in 14 patients (2.9%) were considered treatment related. Sixty-nine patients (14.3%) reported 137 serious AEs; 3 serious AEs in 2 patients (0.4%) were considered treatment related. No new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSIONS: ASPIRE captured the real-world individualized nature of onabotulinumtoxinA utilization for upper limb spasticity over 2 years, with consistently high clinician- and patient-reported satisfaction. Data in this primary analysis will guide clinical use of onabotulinumtoxinA, as well as provide insights to improve educational programs on spasticity management.

Adult Spasticity International Registry Study: methodology and baseline patient, healthcare provider, and caregiver characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to determine the utilization patterns and effectiveness of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®) for treatment of spasticity in clinical practice. DESIGN: An international, multicentre, prospective, observational study at selected sites in North America, Europe, and Asia. PATIENTS: Adult patients with newly diagnosed or established focal spasticity, including those who had previously received treatment with onabotulinum-toxin A. METHODS: Patients were treated with onabotulinumtoxinA, approximately every 12 weeks, according to their physician's usual clinical practice over a period of up to 96 weeks, with a final follow-up interview at 108 weeks. Patient, physician and caregiver data were collected. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics are reported. Of the 745 patients enrolled by 75 healthcare providers from 54 sites, 474 patients had previously received onabotulinumtoxinA treatment for spasticity. Lower limb spasticity was more common than upper limb spasticity, with stroke the most common underlying aetiology. The Short-Form 12 (SF-12) health survey scores showed that patients' spasticity had a greater perceived impact on physical rather than mental aspects. CONCLUSION: The data collected in this study will guide the development of administration strategies to optimize the effectiveness of onabotulinumtoxinA in the management of spasticity of various underlying aetiologies.

Evaluating risks, costs, and benefits of new and emerging therapies to optimize outcomes in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex, chronic, and often disablingneurological disease. Despite the recent incorporation of new treatmentapproaches early in the disease course, care providers still face difficultdecisions as to which therapy will lead to optimal outcomes and whento initiate or escalate therapies. Such decisions require proper assessmentof relative risks, costs, and benefits of new and emerging therapies, as wellas addressing challenges with adherence to achieve optimal managementand outcomes.At the 24th Annual Meeting Expo of the Academy of Managed CarePharmacy (AMCP), held in San Francisco on April 18, 2012, a 4-hour activitytitled "Analyzing and Applying the Evidence to Improve Cost-Benefit andRisk-Benefit Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis" was conducted in associationwith AMCP's Continuing Professional Education Partner Program (CPEPP).The practicum, led by the primary authors of this supplement, featureddidactic presentations, a roundtable session, and an expert panel discussiondetailing research evidence, ideas, and discussion topics central to MSand its applications to managed care. OBJECTIVES: To review (a) recent advances in MS management, (b) strategiesto optimize the use of disease-modifying therapies for MS, (c) costs ofcurrent MS therapies, (d) strategies to promote adherence and complianceto disease-modifying therapies, and (e) potential strategies for managedcare organizations to improve care of their MS patient populations and optimizeclinical and economic outcomes. SUMMARY: Advances in magnetic resonance imaging and newer therapieshave allowed earlier diagnosis and reduction of relapses, reduction in progressionof disability, and reduction in total cost of care in the long term.Yet, even with the incorporation of new disease-modifying therapies intothe treatment armamentarium of MS, challenges remain for patients, providers,caregivers, and managed care organizations as they have to makeinformed decisions based on the properties, risks, costs, and benefits ofeach individual drug as part of an individualized shared decision-makingprocess. Case management and collaborative practice models, which incorporateself-management, medication therapy, formulary management, andcontinuous education, while promoting symptom management, medicationadherence, and a health-promoting lifestyle, are important in the overallmanagement of MS and can provide outcomes-based interventions aimedat controlling costs while maximizing treatment efficacy.