Racial Disparities in Health Care Utilization Among Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Researchers aimed to investigate the recognized racial and economic disparities in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Their study examined health care resource utilization (HRU) among patients with MS within an academic health system. It involved a retrospective cohort analysis of 1929 patients with MS seen across 18 outpatient neurology clinics from June 2018 to August 2023. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) data were collected, focusing on associations between demographic factors and HRU within 7, 30, and 90 days following initial neurology visits.

The study cohort was predominantly female (75.8%) and included a small percentage of Black patients (5.9%). Results indicated that patients with MS had significantly lower hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visit rates at 30 and 90 days compared to a general neurology cohort. However, Black patients with MS exhibited higher rates of ED visits and hospitalizations at these intervals. Notably, Medicaid coverage was more prevalent among Black patients with MS (30.7%) compared to White patients (13.3%). Additionally, higher levels of anxiety and depression were reported among Black patients, alongside a lower usage of antidepressants compared to White patients.

Overall, these findings highlight increased unplanned HRU and poorer mental health outcomes in Black patients with MS, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities and improve timely access to care.

Reference

Loma-Miller I, Heyman R, Thirumala P, Urban A. Risk disease disparity among ethnic groups in multiple sclerosis (MS)—a retrospective cohort study. Presented at: the American Academy of Neurology 2024 Annual Meeting; October 25-27, 2024; Paradise, NV; Abstract S7.007.