Epidemiological and clinical factors impact on the benefit of riluzole in the survival rates of patients with ALS

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of epidemiological and clinical factors on the benefit of riluzole in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: The survival rate of 578 patients with ALS (1999-2011) was analyzed by descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier curves. Considering the median of the sample survival time (19 months), patients were divided in two groups: below (B19) and above the median (A19). Kaplan-Meier curves compared the survival rates of patients treated with riluzole and with patients who did not take the medication. Results: Riluzole increased the survival rates of patients with lower limb onset who were diagnosed after the first appointment in B19. Patients with bulbar onset and diagnosed on the first, or after the first appointment showed higher survival rates in A19. Males lived longer than females in both groups. Conclusion: Epidemiological and clinical factors influenced the benefit of riluzole in the survival rates of patients with ALS.

Objetivo: Investigar o impacto de fatores epidemiológicos e clínicos sobre o benefício do riluzole em pacientes com esclerose lateral amiotrófica (ELA). Métodos: A sobrevida de 578 pacientes com ELA (1999-2011) foi analisada por estatística descritiva e curvas de Kaplan-Meier. Considerando a mediana do tempo de sobrevida (19 meses), a amostra foi subdividida em dois grupos: sobrevida abaixo (B19) e acima de 19 meses (A19). As curvas de Kaplan-Meier compararam a sobrevida de pacientes tratados com riluzole e com pacientes que não receberam tratamento. Resultados: O riluzole aumentou a sobrevida de pacientes com início nos membros inferiores e diagnosticados após a primeira consulta no grupo B19. Pacientes com início bulbar e diagnosticados na primeira/ após a primeira consulta apresentaram maior sobrevida em A19. Os homens apresentaram sobrevida maior do que as mulheres. Conclusão: Foram encontradas diferenças epidemiológicas e clínicas no benefício do riluzole em pacientes com ELA.