Table 1

Characteristics of study participants at first DMT start according to fatigue trajectories (n=1587)

FSMC total trajectories according to FSMC total starting values, n (%)
NoLowMildModerateSevere
N (%)288 (18.1)382 (24.1)340 (21.4)320 (20.2)257 (16.2)
Age at DMT start, years
 18–2999 (34.4)140 (36.6)100 (29.4)80 (25.0)65 (25.3)
 30–44144 (50.0)167 (43.7)160 (47.1)161 (50.3)114 (44.4)
 >4445 (15.6)75 (19.6)80 (23.5)79 (24.7)78 (30.4)
Female162 (56.3)254 (66.5)245 (72.1)240 (75.0)216 (84.0)
Born in Sweden266 (92.4)344 (90.1)302 (88.8)273 (85.3)216 (84.0)
Education over 12 years179 (62.4)231 (60.8)174 (51.2)147 (46.1)111 (43.2)
Sick leave previous year, mean (SD), days*2.5 (30.1)2.4 (27.2)6.0 (39.5)14.9 (67.0)27.8 (88.4)
Disability pension previous year, mean (SD), days*6.8 (17.9)10.1 (34.1)18.8 (45.0)28.7 (62.7)49.7 (81.3)
Comorbidity ≥1†15 (5.2)27 (7.1)41 (12.1)42 (13.1)36 (14.0)
Depression diagnosis‡1 (0.3)7 (1.8)12 (3.5)31 (9.7)35 (13.6)
Anxiety diagnosis‡5 (1.7)23 (6.0)23 (6.8)37 (11.6)50 (19.5)
Other psychiatric comorbidities‡§6 (2.1)19 (5.0)24 (7.1)22 (6.9)41 (16.0)
Antidepressants treatment¶8 (2.8)30 (7.9)37 (10.9)58 (18.1)66 (25.7)
Anxiolytics treatment¶6 (2.1)15 (3.9)7 (2.1)15 (4.7)20 (7.8)
Symptomatic fatigue treatment¶1 (0.3)2 (0.5)9 (2.6)6 (1.9)9 (3.5)
Sleeping aids treatment¶20 (6.9)36 (9.4)42 (12.4)38 (11.9)60 (23.3)
Pain treatment¶71 (24.7)96 (25.1)97 (28.5)115 (35.9)128 (49.8)
DMT
 Dimethyl fumarate61 (21.2)75 (19.6)65 (19.1)49 (15.3)46 (17.9)
 Fingolimod13 (4.5)20 (5.2)16 (4.7)7 (2.2)7 (2.7)
 Glatiramer acetate8 (2.8)13 (3.4)10 (2.9)18 (5.6)10 (3.9)
 Interferons**95 (33.0)106 (27.7)102 (30.0)93 (29.1)70 (27.2)
 Natalizumab30 (10.4)66 (17.3)50 (14.7)49 (15.3)42 (16.3)
 Rituximab77 (26.7)88 (23.0)89 (26.2)93 (29.1)73 (28.4)
 Teriflunomide4 (1.4)14 (3.7)8 (2.4)11 (3.4)9 (3.5)
MS duration (years)
 0–10278 (96.9)373 (97.9)321 (94.7)308 (96.6)249 (97.3)
 >109 (3.1)8 (2.1)18 (5.3)11 (3.4)7 (2.7)
Relapse previous year215 (74.7)252 (66.0)221 (65.0)204 (63.8)177 (68.9)
New cerebral lesion previous year109 (44.3)171 (50.6)138 (45.2)141 (49.3)113 (49.3)
FSMC total score, mean (SD)23.1 (5.5)34.7 (10.8)46.9 (11.5)56.4 (14.1)78.1 (13.6)
EDSS score, median (IQR)1.0 (0.0–2.0)1.5 (1.0–2.0)2.0 (1.0–2.5)2.0 (1.0–2.5)2.5 (2.0–3.0)
SDMT score, mean (SD)56.5 (12.1)55.7 (12.4)52.4 (10.8)51.1 (11.2)47.7 (11.5)
MSIS-29 physical score, mean (SD)5.8 (9.9)9.5 (12.5)18.4 (16.9)23.4 (18.5)41.8 (21.3)
MSIS-29 psychological score, mean (SD)18.1 (18.5)25.2 (19.5)35.4 (22.3)42.4 (21.4)58.8 (21.6)
EQ-5D VAS score, mean (SD)82.5 (16.1)78.8 (17.2)69.4 (18.2)64.1 (18.2)51.1 (22.4)
MS-symptoms inventory score, mean (SD)2.2 (2.0)5.6 (4.5)6.8 (4.4)9.8 (4.9)14.3 (4.4)
  • *Restricted to participants 18–64 years old.

  • †Diagnosed within 5 years prior to DMT start according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

  • ‡Diagnosed within 5 years prior to DMT start.

  • §All mental and behavioural disorders except depression and anxiety disorders.

  • ¶Dispensed prescribed drugs within 1 year prior to DMT start.

  • **Interferon beta-1a, peginterferon beta-1a and interferon beta-1b.

  • DMT, disease-modifying therapy; EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; EQ-5D VAS, EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale; FSMC, Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive function; MS, multiple sclerosis; MSIS-29, MS Impact Scale; SDMT, Symbol Digit Modalities Test.