Multiple Sclerosis Incidence in Black Patients: It Is Time to Do Away With a Racial Medical Myth. (3rd May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamilton, Roy; Ciccarelli, Olga
• Is Part Of: Neurology. Volume 98:Number 18(2022)
• Page Start: 739
• Page End: 740
• Publication Date: 2022-05-03
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3878

Abstract

Abstract : For many years, multiple sclerosis (MS) was believed to be a disease that occurred primarily in White persons. However, mounting evidence demonstrates that Black persons may have an equal or even greater likelihood of developing MS compared to White persons and may experience a higher burden of disease and disability. 1-3 Prior misconceptions about racial disparities in MS may have arisen, in part, from systematic biases in the data used to address the issue. For example, some initial impressions of the low incidence of MS in Black persons were derived from Veterans Administration data obtained in the 1950s, even though it was significantly harder for Black veterans to become service-connected and included in such investigations at the time. 4