Affiliations: [a] Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Mississippi State University, MS, USA | [b] Department of Health Care Administration and Health Sciences, Tennessee State University, TN, USA | [c] Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA | [d] Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Robert J. Buchanan, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Tel.: +1 662 325 9318; Fax: +1 662 325 2716; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Objective:To determine if the demographic characteristics and health care needs of younger people with MS differ from older people with MS. Participants:The study analyzed enrollment data from the NARCOMS Registry to compare 1,987 younger adults with MS (30 years and younger) to 29,245 other adults with MS (over 30 years). Methods:Analyses of the NARCOMS data focused on descriptive characteristics of these adults with MS, using a t-test to identify any statistically significant age-related differences in means and a chi-squared test to identify any statistically significant age-related differences in proportions. Results:A significantly larger proportion of younger adults with MS were female and African American compared to other adults with MS. We found significant age-related differences in the expression of physical disability domains but few significant age-related differences in symptoms of depression. We also observed significant age-related differences in the utilization of health providers, with larger proportions of other adults with MS treated by internists, urologists, rehabilitation specialists, and physical and occupational therapists. Conclusions:The comprehensive care of younger adults with MS should include monitoring for mental health conditions and the availability of mental health services.
