Preventive healthcare use among males with multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Preventive healthcare utilization is crucial for managing chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Understanding patterns of preventive service use among males with MS is essential for targeted health interventions.
• Males with MS may face unique barriers or facilitators to accessing care compared to the general population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and compare the utilization of key preventive healthcare services among male veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS).
• To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with preventive service use in males with MS.
• To inform strategies for improving preventive care delivery within the Veterans Health Administration for this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1142 male veterans diagnosed with MS.
• Comparative analysis used secondary data from a general veteran population (n=31,500) and the general US population (n=68,357).
• Statistical analyses compared service use rates and identified predictors of utilization among males with MS.

Main Results:

• Veterans with MS showed higher rates of cholesterol checks, influenza vaccination, pneumonia vaccination, and colon screening compared to both general veteran and general populations.
• Conversely, fewer males with MS received prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal examinations than their counterparts without MS.
• Factors associated with service use included race, geographic location, age, smoking status, employment status, and vaccination history.

Conclusions:

• Males with MS demonstrate higher uptake of several preventive services, indicating effective reach for some interventions.
• The Veterans Health Administration is largely meeting preventive needs for males with MS, but disparities in PSA screening persist.
• Opportunities exist to improve vaccination rates and address screening disparities to align with national health targets.