Smoking Cessation Helps Improve Outcomes for Black People Living with MS

Tobacco smoking cessation may improve clinical outcomes for Black people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to study results presented at the 40th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). Compared with Non-Hispanic White people with MS, Black people with MS were also found to be at higher risk of worse MS outcomes.

Researchers evaluated a cohort of 105 people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), which included 51 people identified as Black and 54 people identified as White. For 5 years, clinical, MRI, and demographic data (including smoking status, intensity, and longevity) were collected from the participants on an annual basis. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate relationships between race, smoking history, and MS outcomes.

• Black people with MS were 2.08-times more likely to experience overall MS worsening (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; P=.011).
• Black participants experienced a higher likelihood of clinical relapse (OR, 3.5; P=.007) and disability outcome worsening (OR, 2.6; P=.026).
• Race (β, 4.9; 95% CI, 0.02 to 1042.1) and current smoking (β, 16.8; 95% CI, 7.9 to 1086.9) were predictors of worse MS outcomes.
• For Black participants, smoking cessation decreased the likelihood of MS worsening (β, -18.5; 95% CI, -1.81 to -1856.6), regardless of smoking intensity or longevity.

These findings highlights the health disparities experienced by Black people with MS and demonstrates the impact of modifiable risk factors like smoking on disease outcomes.