Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36810103›Full record

Observational studyOrphanet journal of rare diseases2023

Areas of improvement in the medical care of SMA: evidence from a nationwide patient registry in Germany.

Berenike Leibrock, Erik Landfeldt, Justine Hussong, Tabea Huelle, Hannah Mattheus, Simone Thiele, Maggie C Walter, Michael Zemlin, Eva Moehler, Ullrich Dillman and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Orphanet journal of rare diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
3.5field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Health-related quality of life of adults with spinal muscular atrophy: insights from a nationwide patient registry in Germany.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2024
    Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Berenike LeibrockUniversity of Saarland, Saarbruecken, Germany.
Erik LandfeldtIQVIA, Stockholm, Sweden.
Justine HussongDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Tabea HuelleUniversity of Saarland, Saarbruecken, Germany.
Hannah MattheusDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Simone ThieleDepartment of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Maggie C WalterDepartment of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Michael ZemlinDepartment of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Eva MoehlerDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Ullrich DillmanDepartment of Neurology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Sophia AbnerIQVIA, London, UK.
Marina Flotats-BastardasDepartment of Neuropaediatrics, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany. Marina.flotats-bastardas@uks.eu.ORCID 0000-0001-7696-4808
Saarland University · DELudwig-Maximilians-Universität München · DEIQ Samhällsbyggnad · SEIQVIA (United Kingdom) · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundManagement and treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has changed in recent years due to the introduction of novel transformative and potentially curative therapies resulting in the emergence of new disease phenotypes. Yet, little is known about the uptake and impact of these therapies in real-world clinical practice. The objective of this study was to describe current motor function, need of assistive devices, and therapeutic and supportive interventions provided by the healthcare system, as well as the socioeconomic situation of children and adults with different SMA phenotypes in Germany. We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study of German patients with genetically confirmed SMA identified and recruited via a nationwide SMA patient registry ( www.sma-register.de ) within the TREAT-NMD network. Study data was recorded directly from patient-caregiver pairs through a study questionnaire administered online via a dedicated study website.

resultsThe final study cohort consisted of 107 patients with SMA. Of these, 24 were children and 83 adults. In total, about 78% of all participants were taking medication for SMA (predominantly nusinersen and risdiplam). All children with SMA1 were able to sit and 27% of children with SMA2 were able to stand or walk. Impaired upper limb function, scoliosis and bulbar dysfunction were observed more frequently in patients with reduced lower limb performance. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, as well as the use of cough assists were less common than indicated by care guidelines. Family planning and educational and employment status appear to be related to motor skill impairment.

conclusionsWe show that the natural history of disease has changed in Germany following improvements in SMA care and the introduction of novel therapies. Yet, a non-trivial proportion of patients remain untreated. We also identified considerable limitations in rehabilitation and respiratory care, as well as low labour-market participation among adults with SMA, calling for action to improve the current situation.

Indexed as

Muscular Atrophy, SpinalCross-Sectional StudiesGermanyHumansPatient CareRegistries(8/10): spinal muscular atrophyBulbar functionMedical careMotor functionNon-invasive ventilationNusinersenRehabilitationRisdiplam

Identifiers

PMID36810103
PMCPMC9945617
OpenAlexW4321611813

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.