Neuromuscular Disparities

This chapter highlights the evidence of disparities in neuromuscular diseases, focusing on conditions where there is more published evidence such as hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophies, and peripheral neuropathy. The analysis underscores racial and ethnic disparities in disease prevalence, access to care, and treatment outcomes. The impact of cultural factors on pain perception, healthcare seeking behavior, and communication is explored. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of culturally sensitive patient education materials to improve health literacy. The potential of telehealth to address access issues is discussed, with attention to the challenges related to technology accessibility and reimbursement models. The COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of existing healthcare disparities is also acknowledged.