Evaluate and compare time to diagnosis and perceptions of Multiple sclerosis (MS) in Hispanic/Latinx (H/Lx) and non-Hispanic/Latinx patients.

MS is a chronic immune-mediated disease, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Research links social determinants of health to MS in Black and H/Lx patients. A study at our MS center found Black patients were significantly more likely than White patients to experience diagnostic delays. The timing of initiating MS therapy is crucial as it helps slow down disease progression and prevent relapses. 

Phone surveys were conducted on MS patients seen at the Georgetown MS center. Initial phone surveys were conducted on H/Lx patients followed by the selection of a control group of non-Hispanic/Latinx White patients matched based on birth year interval, sex, and neurologists. The total sample size was 70, 35 per group. Data collected include self-reported race/ethnicity, time of first symptom, first neurologist visit, and MS diagnosis. Additionally, MS perceptions were collected by asking an open-ended question addressing significant events that led to symptom onset.

The overall results revealed a greater median time delay in H/Lx compared to non-Hispanic/Latinx patients. Notably, an assessment delay between the onset of the symptoms to first neurology visit was observed within the H/Lx group, with a median time delay of 15 compared to 2. Moreover, H/Lx patients were more likely to attribute their MS onset to emotions/stress, contrasting with Non-Hispanic White patients linking it to environmental factors and family history. Limitations include sample size and recall bias.

The observed discrepancy in diagnostic delay might be attributed to lower awareness of symptoms, reduced care-seeking behavior, social determinants of health and potential implicit bias among primary care providers referring H/Lx patients. Diagnostic delays in H/Lx offer insights into MS disparities, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in underserved patients.