Social determinants of health in multiple sclerosis

Ruth Dobson; Dylan R. Rice; Marie D'hooghe; Rachel Horne; Yvonne Learmonth; Farrah J. Mateen; Claudia H. Marck; Saul Reyes; Mitzi Joi Williams; Gavin Giovannoni; Helen L. Ford

doi:10.1038/s41582-022-00735-5

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Social determinants of health in multiple sclerosis

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Social determinants of health in multiple sclerosis

Ruth Dobson, Dylan R. Rice, Marie D'hooghe, Rachel Horne, Yvonne Learmonth, Farrah J. Mateen, Claudia H. Marck, Saul Reyes, Mitzi Joi Williams, Gavin Giovannoni, …

Nature reviews. Neurology, Vol.18(12), pp.723-734

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-022-00735-5

PMID: 36369488

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Abstract

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. Evidence indicates that health behaviours, comorbidities and disease-modifying therapies all contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) outcomes; however, our knowledge of the effects of social determinants — that is, the ‘risks of risks’ — on health has not yet changed our approach to MS. Assessing and addressing social determinants of health could fundamentally improve health and health care in MS; this approach has already been successful in improving outcomes in other chronic diseases. In this narrative Review, we identify and discuss the body of evidence supporting an effect of many social determinants of health, including racial background, employment and social support, on MS outcomes. It must be noted that many of the published studies were subject to bias, and screening tools and/or practical interventions that address these social determinants are, for the most part, lacking. The existing work does not fully explore the potential bidirectional and complex relationships between social determinants of health and MS, and the interpretation of findings is complicated by the interactions and intersections among many of the identified determinants. On the basis of the reviewed literature, we consider that, if effective interventions targeting social determinants of health were available, they could have substantial effects on MS outcomes. Therefore, funding for and focused design of studies to evaluate and address social determinants of health are urgently needed.

Details

Title: Social determinants of health in multiple sclerosis
Authors/Creators: Ruth Dobson - Queen Mary University of London
Dylan R. Rice - Massachusetts General Hospital
Marie D'hooghe - Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Rachel Horne - Queen Mary University of London
Yvonne Learmonth - Murdoch University
Farrah J. Mateen - Massachusetts General Hospital
Claudia H. Marck - The University of Melbourne
Saul Reyes - Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá
Mitzi Joi Williams - National MS Center Melsbroek
Gavin Giovannoni - Queen Mary University of London
Helen L. Ford - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Publication Details: Nature reviews. Neurology, Vol.18(12), pp.723-734
Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO
Number of pages: 12
Grant note: Barts Charity MS Australia fellowships
Identifiers: 991005585753407891
Copyright: © Springer Nature Limited 2022
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Allied Health; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.203 Neuromuscular Disorders; 1.203.147 Multiple Sclerosis
Web Of Science research areas: Clinical Neurology
ESI research areas: Neuroscience & Behavior