Young Black and Hispanic women with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience worse health outcomes and greater challenges during pregnancy compared to young white women, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology.
Researchers from nine MS centers across the United States analyzed medical records of 294 women whose pregnancies resulted in live births. The study found that Black and Hispanic women faced significant socioeconomic disadvantages likely to adversely affect their health.
Dr. Riley Bove, senior author from the UCSF Department of Neurology, stated, “At the time of conception, they were more likely to live in under-resourced neighborhoods, to be unemployed and less likely to have private health insurance.”
Minority women were younger at conception and had higher disability scores compared to white women. They also showed higher levels of inflammation before and after pregnancy, indicating increased susceptibility to disease progression.
The study revealed disparities in pregnancy-related care, with minority women slightly less likely to receive early ultrasounds and more likely to undergo emergency C-sections. Black and Hispanic mothers also had lower-birthweight babies and shorter breastfeeding durations.
“What we are seeing is that underrepresented women with MS start their pregnancies with higher disability and fewer health care resources,” Bove explained. “Our findings highlight the importance of considering race-ethnicity and disability in women with MS.”
The researchers suggest that socioeconomic factors, rather than MS-specific care, may be the foundation for these disparities. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to address health inequities among minority women with MS.
See “Why do young women with multiple sclerosis face health disparities?” (January 23, 2024)
