Olina Efthymiadou

Using IMPrESS to guide policy change in multiple sclerosis

The International MultiPlE Sclerosis Study (IMPrESS) studied the significant impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the health and well-being of both people with the disease and their caregivers, along with its broader socioeconomic impact. Results confirmed that there is an urgent need to achieve better outcomes for people with MS. This paper uses results from the IMPrESS to present new international evidence on the socioeconomic burden of MS and discuss the merits of a likely paradigm shift in the management of MS towards the use of better (and more accurate) diagnostic follow-up to monitor disease progression and the earlier use of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) to achieve better clinical, quality-of-life and socioeconomic results for individuals.

OP141 Patient relevant outcome measures as predictors of health care use in multiple sclerosis

Patient-relevant-outcomes-measures (PROMS) are primarily used to measure individual disability and quality of life in people with MS. However, their relationship with health care resources utilisation (as well as productivity loss) is less clear. The IMPRESS data showed that PROMs may be useful tools to predict the economic impact of MS on healthcare providers and wider society.