Common Social and Health Disparities Contribute to Racial Differences in Ambulatory Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We previously reported more rapid accrual of ambulatory impairments in Black compared to White individuals with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and higher body mass index (BMI). Hypertension and lower neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) were associated with greater impairment, irrespective of race. We hypothesize that these common social and health inequities may explain a substantial portion of the racial differences in ambulation in American individuals with RRMS.

Methods

Causal mediation analyses investigated baseline and change-over-time mediators of ambulatory impairment differences between 1795 Black and White individuals with RRMS using a retrospective cohort study comprised of electronic health record data from 8491 clinical encounters be

SUBMITTER: Briggs FBS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10779710 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan-Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature