Large national study finds differences in multiple sclerosis death rates by age, race and geography
A large-scale study of 42,000 U.S. death certificates reveals that multiple sclerosis mortality rates vary significantly by age, race, and geography. Researchers found that Black patients tend to die younger and that rising death rates suggest a need for better management of coexisting health conditions.
Why it matters
The findings highlight critical health disparities and the need for more effective, equitable clinical strategies to improve life expectancy for MS patients.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain An analysis of more than 42,000 U.S. deaths linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) found that death rates varied by age, geography, race and ethnicity, with Black patients dying younger than white patients and high blood pressure emerging as a growing contributor. The findings, published in the journal Neurology , point to the need for timely diagnosis and better prevention strategies to help people with MS live longer.
MS is a chronic disease that damages the brain and spinal cord, leading to vision problems, muscle weakness, fatigue and other symptoms. Although people with MS have shorter life expectancies than the general population, the disease affects each person differently.
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