Epidemiological and Demographic Characteristics Related to Social Determinants of Health in Patients with Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis
Sarah Shapiro1, Melissa Wright2, Trieste Francis2, Sama Noroozi Gilandehi2, Tammy Smith2, Ka-Ho Wong3, Stacey Clardy2
1Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2University of Utah, 3U of U Neurology Clinic
Objective:
To identify and describe the epidemiological and demographic characteristics related to social determinants of health of patients diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in a single center cohort.
Background:
Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is a rare neurologic disorder primarily affecting young patients. However, the impact of social determinants of health in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis are not well-described in the medical literature.
Design/Methods:
A retrospective chart review identified anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients within the University of Utah health system by utilizing the ICD-10 code G04.81 for Other encephalitis and encephalomyelitis or keyword search of “NMDA” between January 2012-August 2022. Of the 212 patients pulled from above, 24
NMDAR encephalitis patients were identified through positive NMDAR IgG antibody assays
.Results:
We describe the epidemiological and socioeconomic characteristics of patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, including age of onset, presence of antecedent infections or triggers, race and ethnicity, sex, zip code, Gini index, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations, duration from symptom onset to diagnosis, insurance type, primary language, and outcome by modified Rankin Score (mRS). We will conduct sensitive analysis on identifying any socioeconomic variables as covariance with the severity of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Conclusions:
In this cohort, anti-NMDAR encephalitis outcomes were encouraging in the majority of patients. Recognition of specific epidemiologic and demographic related to social determinants of health variables placing anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients at risk for delays in diagnosis and/or underutilization of medical care will benefit this patient population.