Table 1 Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of MS patients at inclusion

Age M ± SD (range)

50.2 ± 10.4 (27-73)

51.1 ± 11.3 (27-73)

49.5 ± 9.8 (28-71)

Gender (female) n (%)

54 (62.1)

20 (55.6)

34 (66.7)

Employed* n (%)

26 (30.2)*

10 (27.8)

16 (32.0)*

Living situation*

 Alone n (%)

16 (18.6)

7 (19.4)

9 (18.0)

 with family/ partner n (%)

67 (77.9)

27 (75.0)

40 (80.0)

 Nursing home n (%)

1 (1.2)

0 (0.0)

1 (2.0)

 Other n (%)

2 (2.3)

2 (5.6)

0 (0.0)

Duration of multiple sclerosis in years since onset M ± SD (range)

13.6 ± 8.4* (0.2-36)

14.3 ± 8.9 (3-36)

13.1 ± 8.1* (0.2-34)

Type of multiple sclerosis

 Primary progressive n (%)

16 (18.4)

7 (19.4)

9 (17.7)

 Secondary progressive n (%)

44 (50.6)

15 (41.7)

29 (56.9)

 Relapsing remitting n (%)

27 (31.0)

14 (38.9)

13 (25.5)

Mean number of MS relapses in the last 12 months M ± SD (range)

1.4 ± 0.7 (1-4)

1.9 ± 1.1 (2-4)

1.1 ± 0.3 (1-2)

Duration of spasticity in years since onset M ± SD (range)

8.0 ± 6.6** (0.2-27)

8.2 ± 5.6 (1.0-21)

7.9 ± 7.4** (0.2-27)

EDSS M ± SD (range)

5.7 ± 1.6 (1.5-8.5)

5.8 ± 1.7 (2.0-8.5)

5.6 ± 1.5 (1.5-8.5)

Type of spasticity (physician report)

 Persistent n (%)

46 (52.9)

17 (47.2)

29 (56.9)

 Paroxysmal n (%)

31 (35.6)

12 (33.3)

19 (37.2)

 Both n (%)

10 (11.5)

7 (19.5)

3 (5.9)

Severity of spasticity (physician report)

 mild n (%)

37 (42.5)

0 (0.0)

37 (72.5)

 moderate n (%)

27 (31.0)

21 (58.3)

6 (11.8)

 severe n (%)

23 (26.5)

15 (41.7)

8 (15.7)

Modified Ashworth Score M ± SD (range)

2.3 ± 1.1*** (0-4)

3.0 ± 0.8* (1-4)

1.7 ± 1.0* (0-4)

Barthel index M ± SD (range)

71.2 ± 27.5 (0-100)****

71.0 ± 29.5 (0-100)

71.7 ± 21.6 (25-95)****

Concomitant symptoms

 Fatigue n (%)

67 (77.0)

30 (83.3)

37 (72.6)

 Cognitive disorder n (%)

21 (24.1)

13 (36.1)

8 (15.7)

 Depressive mood n (%)

18 (20.7)

9 (25.0)

9 (17.7)

Mobility

 unaided n (%)

29 (33.3)

9 (25.0)

20 (39.2)

 crutches n (%)

16 (18.4)

8 (22.2)

8 (15.7)

 walking frame n (%)

14 (16.1)

3 (8.3)

11 (21.6)

 wheelchair n (%)

28 (32.2)

16 (44.5)

12 (23.5)

Treatment with immunomodulators in the past 12 months n (%)

18 (20.7)

20 (55.6)

43 (84.3)

Drug treatment of MS-spasticity at inclusion n (%)

57 (65.5)

27 (75.0)

30 (58.8)

Parameters patient report

Level of spasticity (NRS) M ± SD (range)

5.1 ± 2.4 (0-10)

6.5 ± 1.7 (4-10)

4.0 ± 2.3* (0-9)

Level of sleep disturbances (NRS) M ± SD (range)

3.2 ± 2.9* (0-10)

4.3 ± 3.4 (0-10)

2.4 ± 2.2 (0-8)