Study Data from University of Pittsburgh Update Knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis (The Impact of Socioeconomic Status On Subsequent Neurological Outcomes In Multiple Sclerosis): Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions – Multiple Sclerosis

2022 SEP 01 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- New research on Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions - Multiple Sclerosis is the subject of a report. According to news reporting originating in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “To examine whether lower neighborhood-level and individual-level indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with subsequently worse neurological disability in people with MS (pwMS). In a multi-center study using prospectively collected data from discovery cohorts (University of Pitts-burgh, N=1316) and replication cohorts (Columbia University, N=488), we calculated a neighborhood SES indicator, area deprivation index (ADI), based on participants’ residence at enrollment, and we derived an in-dividual SES indicator based on participants’ household income.”

Financial support for this research came from NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS).

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the University of Pittsburgh, “reported neurological outcomes included the Multiple Sclerosis Rating Scale-Revised (MSRS-R), Patient-Determined Disease Steps (PDDS), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function scores from 2018 to 2020. We performed covariate-adjusted regression analyses in each cohort and then random-effects meta -analyses. Higher ADI (lower SES) in 2015 was associated with subsequently worse neurological outcomes during 2018-2020 (discovery: MSRS-R, beta=0.62, 95%CI [0.36,0.89], p< 0.001; PDDS, beta=0.11, 95%CI [0.02,0.20], p=0.02 | replication: MSRS-R, beta=0.46, 95%CI [0.21,0.72], p< 0.001; PDDS, beta=0.12, 95%CI [0.03,0.21], p=0.009, PROMIS, beta=-0.60, 95%CI [-1.12,-0.08], p=0.025). Lower neighborhood percent with college educa-tion (MSRS-R, beta=-7.31, 95%CI [-8.99,-5.64], p< 0.001; PDDS, beta=-1.62, 95%CI [-2.20,-1.05], p< 0.001; PROMIS, beta=9.31, 95%CI [5.73,12.89], p< 0.001), neighborhood median household income (MSRS-R, beta=-3.80e-05, 95%CI [-5.05e-05,-2.56e-05], p< 0.001; PDDS, beta=-8.58e-06, 95%CI [-1.28e-05,-4.32e-06], p< 0.001; PROMIS, beta=2.55e-05, 95%CI [5.96e-07,5.05e-05], p=0.045), and neighborhood median home value (MSRS-R, beta=-6.50e-06, 95%CI [-8.16e-06,-4.84e-06], p< 0.001; PDDS, beta=-1.54e-06, 95%CI [-2.11e-06,-9.65e-07], p< 0.001; PROMIS, beta=4.98e-06, 95%CI [1.81e-06,8.14e-06], p=0.002) drove the association between higher ADI and subsequently worse neurological disability (in joint analyses). Neighborhood percent of population with Medicaid, but not private insurance, significantly mediated the observed covariate-adjusted associations. Higher individual-level house-hold income bracket was associated with better neurological outcomes in joint analyses (MSRS-R: R=-0.39, p< 0.001; PDDS: R=-0.35, p< 0.001; PROMIS: R=0.37, p< 0.001), independent of ADI. Lower neighborhood SES is associated with subsequently worse neurological outcomes in pwMS.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Future testing of targeted intervention through public policies that improve SES are warranted.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: The Impact of Socioeconomic Status On Subsequent Neurological Outcomes In Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 2022;65. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, Oxon, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/multiple-sclerosis-and-related-disorders/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Zongqi Xia, University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Neurology, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. Additional authors for this research include Devi Sai Sri Kavya Boorgu, Shruthi Venkatesh, Elizabeth Walker, Chirag M. Lakhani, Chirag J. Patel, Ines M. Aguerre, Claire Riley and Philip L. De Jager.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2022.103994. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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