Disparidades de salud en el mundo real de los pacientes con esclerosis múltiple

Abstract

Introduction

Many countries, developed or not, endure social, economic, cultural, ethnic, environmental and also health disparities.

Objective

To point out health disparities occurring in the real world care of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Development

Recently published data increasingly mention health disparities in multiple sclerosis obtained from real world data and not from randomized clinical trials. The most prevalent include limited access to specific medication, magnetic resonance imaging, other essential diagnostic studies, neurorehabilitation. Disregard of the various handicaps caused by the disease (poor quality of life, difficulties of daily living), age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, environment, dwelling and employment are also mentioned. Analyzed with adequate instruments, these data might have hard evidence value on health disparities, at present underestimated when assessing the care of patients with this disease, and consequently allowing for more scientifically rigorous diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.

Conclusions

Health disparities are relevant evidence in multiple sclerosis patients and should be included in the assessment and decision making of their management. Correcting them would contribute to a better equity in health care.