Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40904817›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in neurological disorders2025

Racial and ethnic disparities in ALS: a longitudinal electronic health records study.

Tiffany Kuo, Timothy Reynolds, Linda Chen, Chanhyun Park, Karen Rascati, Paul Godley

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Tiffany KuoBaylor Scott & White Health, The University of Texas at Austin, Pharmacy Building, 2409 University Ave, Austin, TX 78712, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5839-8116
Timothy ReynoldsBaylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA.
Linda ChenBaylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA.
Chanhyun ParkHealth Outcomes Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Karen RascatiHealth Outcomes Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Paul GodleyBaylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options and significant variability in care. Racial and ethnic disparities in ALS management and outcomes have been reported, but findings remain inconsistent. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate racial and ethnic disparities in ALS care, specifically differences in healthcare utilization, treatment patterns, and survival, within a large healthcare system. Design: This retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic health records from a large healthcare system in Texas for patients diagnosed with ALS between 2013 and 2023, examining racial and ethnic differences in treatment and outcomes. Methods: Patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Baseline characteristics, including race/ethnicity and socioeconomic factors, were collected. Primary outcomes included the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV), tracheostomy, gastrostomy, mobility aids, and ALS medications; secondary outcomes included time to diagnosis and survival. Racial and ethnic disparities were assessed using generalized linear regression and Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Results: A total of 636 patients were included (74.5% Non-Hispanic White, 5.3% Non-Hispanic Black, 7.4% Hispanic, and 12.7% Other). Non-Hispanic Black patients had significantly higher tracheostomy rates than Non-Hispanic White patients (35.3% vs 8.7%; adjusted odds ratio (OR), 6.20; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.43-15.84). Hispanic patients had lower odds of receiving riluzole (42.6% vs 61.8%; adjusted OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.18-0.71) and higher rates of emergency department visits (adjusted OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.09-3.65) and hospitalizations (adjusted OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.37-4.81). No significant racial or ethnic differences were observed in time to diagnosis or survival after adjustment. Conclusion: Significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in ALS care, particularly in tracheostomy utilization, medication prescribing, and healthcare access. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to promote equitable ALS management, including provider education and improved healthcare accessibility.

Indexed as

ALSamyotrophic lateral sclerosishealthcare utilizationhealth equityracial disparities

Identifiers

PMID40904817
PMCPMC12402569

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.