Milgamma® and Milgamma® Compositum Step-therapy in Patients With Acute Non-specific Low Back Pain Receiving Modern NSAID

Pain intensity was measured using 0-10 point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). NRS is 11-step scale for assessment of pain intensity at the moment of patient's examination ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Pain intensity was measured at baseline, at 5, 24 and 38 days after the start of treatment.Changes of pain intensity from baseline to Day 5, from baseline to Day 24 and from baseline to Day 38 after the start of treatment were calculated separately.

Pain intensity was measured using 0-10 point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). NRS is 11-step scale for assessment of pain intensity at the moment of patient's examination ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Pain intensity was measured at baseline, at 5, 10, 24 and 38 days after the start of treatment. A mixed model repeated measures was used to analyze change from baseline in pain intensity over time from Baseline to Visit 5 (38 days after the start of treatment) in each group. The model included a random effect for subject and fixed effect terms for treatment, visit, treatment-by-visit interaction, baseline pain intensity. An unstructured covariance structure was used to model the within-subject errors. P-value was calculated for the difference between treatment groups.

Pain intensity was measured using 0-10 point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). NRS is 11-step scale for assessment of pain intensity at the moment of patient's examination ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Relief in pain intensity was defined as 100%*(pain intensity at baseline - pain intensity at Visit 2, 3, 4 or 5)/ pain intensity at baseline. Percentage of patients showing at least 30% low back pain relief at Visit 2 (5 days after the start of treatment), at Visit 3 (10 days after the start of treatment), at Visit 4 (24 days after the start of treatment) and at Visit 5 (38 days after the start of treatment) were calculated separately.

Patients' disability was assessed using Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ). RMDQ is a 24-item self-administered disability measure in which greater level of pain-related disability is reflected by higher score. The RMDQ score ranges from 0 to 24 with a lower score indicating better function.

Episode of pain flare-up was defined as presence of at least 1 day with low back pain following a period without pain lasting at least 4 weeks. Therefore pain flare-ups were registered no earlier than 4 weeks after the start of treatment, i.e. starting from Visit 5 (38 days after the start of treatment). The occurrence of pain flare-up was determined by the investigator.

Episode of pain flare-up was defined as presence of at least 1 day with low back pain following a period without pain lasting at least 4 weeks. Therefore pain flare-ups were registered no earlier than 4 weeks after the start of treatment, i.e. starting from Visit 5 (38 days after the start of treatment). The occurrence of pain flare-up was determined by the investigator.

Percentages of patients with at least one pain flare-up resulting in consultancy with physician or professional management, resulting in disruption of daily activity, and resulting in NSAIDs intake were analyzed separately.

Number of treatment days with NSAIDs was calculated using the data collected on the NSAIDs intake during the study irrespective of the specific drug used. Duration of each intake period was determined as Stop date - Start date +1 and, finally, all individual duration values were summed up. In case medication intake was ongoing at the End of Study Visit, stop date was imputed by the date of study completion.

Prescribed number of Milgamma® injections was reported at Baseline visit. Actual number of injections was calculated by counting the number of injections administered and reported starting from Visit 2. If the treatment was interrupted, the days patient did not receive Milgamma® injections were not contribute to the total number of injections.

Prescribed number of treatment days with Milgamma® compositum intake was reported at Baseline visit. Actual number of treatment days was calculated by summing up all the individual periods of treatment with Milgamma® compositum (in days) reported starting from Visit 2. If the treatment was interrupted, the days patient did not receive Milgamma® compositum were not contribute to the total number of treatment days with Milgamma® compositum intake.

Patient satisfaction with treatment was evaluated using a 5-point verbal rating scale (1= very dissatisfied, 2= dissatisfied, 3= neutral, 4= satisfied, 5= very satisfied) after 5, 10, 38 days and 3 months (94 days) since the start of treatment.

Percentage of patients prematurely discontinued prescribed treatment with Milgamma®/ Milgamma® compositum was evaluated by reasons for discontinuation.

Percentage of patient prematurely discontinued study participation by the following reasons: patient lost to follow-up, patient withdrew consent, administrative reasons, pain resolution, adverse event, death, other reason.

As this was a non-interventional study in which NSAIDs and Milgamma® / Milgamma® compositum were administered and managed within routine medical care, safety assessment was based on frequency and severity of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) recorded during the study.

ADR was defined as an adverse event (AE) suspected to be causally related to the medicinal product (Milgamma®, Milgamma® compositum or NSAID). The severity grade (mild, moderate or severe) of ADR was determined based on the investigator's judgement. Adverse events not related to the medicinal product were not monitored in this observational study.