Improvement in Quality-of-Life-Related Outcomes Following Treatment with IncobotulinumtoxinA in Adults with Limb Spasticity: A Pooled Analysis

Abstract

A strong correlation has been reported between patient-reported quality of life (QoL) and the investigator-rated Disability Assessment Scale (DAS) in patients with spasticity. The current analysis evaluates the effect of incobotulinumtoxinA on QoL-related outcomes (limb position abnormality, as well as dressing- and hygiene-related disability, measured with the DAS) in adults with upper limb spasticity, using pooled data from six studies. Separate analyses for each DAS domain were performed using data from patients with disabilities for that domain (DAS score ≥1). Results showed that a significantly greater proportion of incobotulinumtoxinA-treated compared with placebo-treated patients achieved a ≥1-point reduction from baseline in each of the DAS domains (improvement) 4 weeks after the first injection. The benefits of incobotulinumtoxinA were observed regardless of the baseline severity of DAS impairment and of the time elapsed since stroke. The effects of incobotulinumtoxinA 4 weeks after injection were maintained or enhanced over multiple injection cycles for all three DAS domains, supporting the use of repeated injection cycles to provide sustained QoL benefit. IncobotulinumtoxinA represents an important treatment option to achieve better QoL-related outcomes for patients with upper limb spasticity, irrespective of the duration of their condition.

Impact of Shaking Exercise on Functional Recovery in Patients with Chronic Post-Stroke Upper Limb Paralysis: A Multicenter, Open-Label, Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Spasticity is a common complication in patients with severe stroke that leads to pain and significant motor dysfunction. Treatment often involves long-term management strategies, including the use of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), which has been widely adopted for its efficacy in reducing muscle hypertonicity and associated discomfort [8][9][10][11][12][13]. However, botulinum therapy is repetitive and invasive, and when administered alone it may not improve upper limb function; it Disclaimer/Publisher's Note: The statements, opinions, and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s).…”