Socioeconomic Factors and Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis
Summary
Socioeconomic determinants such as income, education, occupation and social support profoundly influence the course and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). Individuals with higher socioeconomic status (SES) typically benefit from earlier diagnosis, more rapid initiation of disease-modifying therapies and improved adherence to treatment, which collectively slow disability accumulation. Conversely, lower SES is associated with delayed access to specialist care, reduced uptake of second-line therapies and greater psychosocial stress, all of which exacerbate neurological decline. Employment stability and educational attainment also shape self-management capabilities and resilience, while neighbourhood deprivation and health-care inequities contribute to regional disparities in disability progression. Mechanistically, socioeconomic adversity may amplify comorbidities, restrict rehabilitation opportunities and limit adoption of lifestyle interventions that preserve function. Global studies reveal a non-linear relationship between sociodemographic indices and disability‐adjusted life years, underscoring the importance of tailored health-system responses. Integrating social determinants into clinical decision-making and policy frameworks is essential to mitigate the socioeconomic gradient in MS outcomes and to allocate resources where they are most needed.
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Socioeconomic Factors and Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in socioeconomic factors and disability progression in multiple sclerosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Socioeconomic status (SES): Composite measure of an individual’s economic, educational and occupational standing that influences access to resources and health outcomes.
Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): Standardised scale ranging from 0 (normal neurological exam) to 10 (death due to MS) used to quantify disability progression.
Disease-modifying therapy (DMT): Medications that reduce relapse rate and delay disability accumulation by modulating immune response.
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs): Metric combining years of life lost to premature mortality and years lived with disability, used to assess overall disease burden.
References
- Socio-economic status influences access to second-line disease modifying treatment in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis patients. PLOS ONE (2018).
- Economic and Social Standing of Individuals in Iran Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Archives of Iranian Medicine (2023).
- Formal help for persons with multiple sclerosis—Background factors associated with usage of personal assistance and home help in Sweden. PLOS ONE (2023).
- Global burden of multiple sclerosis and its attributable risk factors, 1990–2019. Frontiers in Neurology (2024).
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