Research Article

Comparisons of Costs between Black Caribbean and White British Patients with Advanced Multiple Sclerosis in the UK

Table 1

Demographic and clinical characteristics of Black Caribbean and White British participants included in the study [15].

White British ( )Black Caribbean ( ) value for statistical test

Place of birth:
 United Kingdom43 (100%)34 (79%)Fisher’s exact
 Caribbean 0 9 (21%)
Gender:
 Male 15 (35%)11 (26%)Chi-sq 0.88 (df = 1),
 Female 28 (65%)32 (74%)
Mean age, SD (range) median 57.5 yrs, 12.1 (35–88) 57.7 47.7 yrs, 10.8 (27–75) 48.1 -test = 3.97,
Highest level of education attained:
 Did not go to school1 (2%)0Fisher’s exact
 Primary school 1 (2%)4 (9%)
 Secondary school (GCSE)13 (30%)20 (47%)
 Secondary school (A-level)8 (19%)10 (23%)
 University20 (47%)9 (21%)
Degree/equivalent professional qualification:
 Yes23 (53%)9 (21%)Chi-sq 9.75 (df = 1),
 No20 (47%)34 (79%)
Employment status
 Employed full time1 (2%)4 (9%)Chi-sq 0.314 (df = 8),
 Employed part time4 (9%)0 (0%)
 Self-employed1 (2%)0 (0%)
 Unemployed6 (14%)11 (26%)
 Retired (because of age)15 (35%)2 (5%)
 Retired (because of illness)15 (35%)21 (49%)
 Student0 (0%)1 (2%)
 House wife/husband0 (0%)1 (2%)
 Other1 (2%)3 (7%)
Geographical area of residence—indices of multiple deprivation (IMD) (grouped):
 Group 1 (most deprived)22 (51%)23 (56%)Fisher’s exact
 Group 216 (37%)18 (42%)
 Group 33 (7%)0
 Group 4 (least deprived)2 (5%)2 (5%)
Type of MS:
 Relapsing remitting 8 (19%)16 (37%)Fisher’s exact
 Secondary progressive19 (44%)13 (30%)
 Primary progressive 16 (37%)14 (33%)
Age at:
 Onset mean yrs, SD 34.3 yrs, 13.9 34.1 yrs, 11.2 -test 0.08,
 Diagnosis mean yrs, SD 41.4 yrs, 14.3 37.4 yrs, 11.3 -test 1.43,
MS duration from diagnosis:
 Mean yrs, SD (range) 16.1 yrs, 11.2 (1.67–50.29)10.2 yrs, 5.7 (0.89–23.27) -test 3.01,
 Median12.4 9.5
EDSS score:
 6.015 (35%)10 (23%)Fisher’s exact,
 6.59 (21%)14 (33%)
 7.04 (9%)6 (14%)
 7.53 (7%)4 (9%)
 8.08 (18%)6 (14%)
 8.52 (5%)1 (2%)
 9.02 (5%)2 (5%)