Examining Disparities in Patient Motion During MRI

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Intra-procedural patient motion is a significant challenge in clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), often leading to degraded image quality.
• Understanding the factors contributing to patient motion is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate its impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between clinical characteristics and patient sociodemographic factors with the occurrence of motion during MRI examinations.
• To identify patient groups at higher risk for motion during MRI scans.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 68,517 MRI reports from 2022 across two U.S. urban health systems was conducted.
• Motion was identified by mentions in MRI reports. Clinical and sociodemographic data were extracted from electronic health records.
• Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze associations, adjusting for care setting.

Main Results:

• Emergency and inpatient MRI studies showed significantly higher odds of motion compared to outpatient exams.
• Older age (≥85 years), male gender, Black race, and increasing obesity (Class II and III) were independently associated with higher odds of motion.
• Ethnicity, preferred language, and health system were not significantly associated with motion.

Conclusions:

• Motion on MRI disproportionately affects specific patient populations, including the elderly, males, individuals with obesity, and Black patients, irrespective of the care setting.
• Incorporating knowledge of these motion-risk factors into MRI scheduling, pre-scan patient communication, and positioning protocols may help reduce motion-limited studies.
• Addressing these disparities through workflow adjustments is essential for ensuring equitable, high-quality MRI services for all patient demographics.