Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence Varies by Race

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) varies according to race and ethnicity, as reported in a study based in Southern California. The results of this study underscore the need for appropriate treatment of African Americans with MS about whom previous widespread beliefs have skewed the perceived prevalence of MS.

According to a study published in the journal Neurology, the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been widely believed to be rare in African Americans. However, MS may not actually be an emerging disease in African Americans. Researchers of the study explored the question of whether MS prevalence varies by race and ethnicity.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included almost 3 million members of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. The electronic health records of study subjects with an ICD-9 code for MS between 2008 and 2010 were included. Binomial regression was used to estimate MS prevalence by age, sex, race, and ethnicity.

Results showed that, of the 3,863 patients with MS, the average age was 51.7 years and the prevalence of MS was higher in women (76.8%). The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of MS was similarly high in Black and White patients and lower in Hispanic and Asian patients. In regard to age, the prevalence of MS was highest among patients aged 35 to 64 years old and declined after 65 years of age in all racial and ethnic groups. Across all patients aged between 18 and 24 years old, the prevalence of MS was highest in Black and Hispanic patients.

The authors call for an update in perspective on the prevalence of MS in African Americans. The burden of disease on African Americans may be heavier than previously thought. Recognizing the variability in MS prevalence could help healthcare providers make informed decisions on the right treatment regimens across racially and ethnically diverse groups of patients.

Source:
Langer-Gould, A. M., Gonzales, E. G., Smith, J. B., Li, B. H., & Nelson, L. M. (2022). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence. Neurology, 98(18), e1818-e1827. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000200151

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