Socioeconomic Profile of Patients Treated at a Reference Center for Demyelinating Diseases in the State of Paraíba (Brazil)
Bianca Oliveira1, Daniel Siqueira Lima2, Luiza Villarim1, Ana Cicilia Gonçalves de Araújo1, Maria Elenir Miguel Rodrigues dos Santos1, Davi Guerra1, Ana Clara Guilherme1
1FUNAD, 2NEUROIMMUNOLOGY, UCSD
Objective:
To analyze the socioeconomic profile of patients treated at a reference center for demyelinating diseases to facilitate the planning of health policies.
Background:
Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system are characterized by the damage of myelin sheath of the neurons. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent and represents a significant cause of disability in young adults. In Brazil, approximately 30 to 35 thousand people live with MS and due to its vast territorial extension and socioeconomic variations, the analysis of regional data is essential for progress in appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Design/Methods:
Descriptive and retrospective study analyzed patient data from a reference center for demyelinating diseases in Brazil, between August 6, 2024, and October 6, 2024. The variables evaluated were diagnosis, age, sex, employment status, income, educational level, housing, number of people in the household, pets, and access to basic infrastructure. Compiled data were analyzed using ChatGPT.
Results:
Of 110 patients, 79 were women, with a mean age of 40 years. MS was the most frequent diagnosis (76/110), followed by neuromyelitis optica (9/110) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (1/110); 23 patients had inconclusive diagnosis. Most patients lived in owned or rented homes with an average household size of four people and access to basic services like garbage collection. Many were unemployed or worked in informal jobs, and educational levels predominantly did not exceed high school. Some households had pets, though pet vaccination was inconsistently maintained.
Conclusions:
The findings show significant challenges related to healthcare access, socioeconomic vulnerabilities, and education, further enhanced by regional inequalities. Efforts to expand diagnostic access, train healthcare professionals, implement screening tools, and prioritize care for vulnerable populations are critical for addressing these barriers and ensuring equitable healthcare for these patients.
Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff.