Outcomes of Latino Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

<strong>Background&nbsp;</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Poor social determinants of health (SDOH) are known to contribute to worse neurological disease outcomes and disparities in demyelinating diseases. Due to a lack of representation of race and ethnicity in prior studies, there is limited research examining these relationships within Latino/a/x populations with demyelinating diseases.</span> <strong>Objectives </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">We aimed to understand the associations between complex environmental and socioeconomic factors and neurological outcomes in Latino populations with a demyelinating disease. We conducted a retrospective study of Latino patients diagnosed with a demyelinating disease (multiple sclerosis [MS], neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder [NMOSD], and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease [MOGAD]), who have attended the outpatient University of North Carolina Neurology clinic between February 2020 to February 2026 (N=99).&nbsp;</span> <strong>Methods</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">We compared Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), annualized relapse rate (ARR), and medication adherence between patients living &lt;=50 miles of UNC (vs. &gt;50) to assess if proximity to our center is associated with worse neurological outcomes. We used Mann&ndash;Whitney U test to analyze EDSS and ARR (continuous) and Fisher&rsquo;s exact test for medication adherence. Multivariable linear regression adjusting for relevant covariates evaluated whether SDOH predicted poor functional outcomes, and multivariable binomial logistic regression evaluated associations between SDOH and medication adherence</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">to DMT type based on self-reported adherence.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">These models were adjusted for potential confounders.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span> <strong>Results </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Patients living&nbsp; &gt;50 miles from the clinic had significantly higher EDSS (mean 3.74+/-2.46) compared with those living &lt;=50 miles</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">(mean 2.21+/-1.88) (p&lt;0.001). Patients living &lt;50 miles had a higher frequency of adherence to DMT than those &gt;=50 miles (p=.044). In a multivariable logistic regression shorter disease duration was significantly associated with improved medication adherence (&beta;=-0.2249, p&lt;0.001).&nbsp;</span> <strong>Conclusions</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Among Latino patients with demyelinating diseases living &gt;=50 miles versus &lt;50 </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">[MD5] </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">miles from the UNC MS/Neuroimmunology clinic, differences in disability scores and adherence to DMT were seen. Individuals with shorter disease duration were more likely to self-report adherence to DMT.</span>