July 2026

Among 42,205 MS-related deaths from 2012 to 2023, mortality rates were higher in women than men, were highest in non-Hispanic Black people, and the most common coexisting condition relating to death was high blood pressure.

Background: It is rare for someone to die from MS itself. Comorbidities – health conditions like high blood pressure, depression, or high cholesterol – commonly affect people living with MS. These comorbidities are associated with increased disability, higher relapse rates, lower health-related quality of life, and potentially shorten the lifespan of someone with MS. Importantly, comorbidities are largely treatable.

The Study: A team of researchers from California, Kentucky and Virginia reviewed information on deaths that occurred in people with MS between 2012 and 2023. They used CDC Wonder, a database created by the Centers for Disease Control that includes information on underlying cause of death.The team gathered information on age at death, race/ethnicity, sex, and any comorbidity listed on the death certificate, whether as an underlying cause of death, or a contributing factor.

Results: A total of 42,205 MS-related deaths occurred in people with MS aged 25 years or older between 2012 and 2023.Mortality rates associated with MS were higher in women with MS than men, across all races and ethnicities.Mortality rates were highest among non-Hispanic Black people (1.56/100,000 people in women and .97/100,000 for male individuals). Rates among non-Hispanic White people were slightly lower (1.54/women, 0.92/men). Rates were lowest among Hispanic people (0.38/women, 0.26/men).MS-related mortality increased with age in both sexes. Rates peaked at age 75–84 for non-Hispanic White people with MS. Mortality rates peaked earlier, at age 65–74, in Black people with MS. Among Hispanic females, mortality rates were somewhat higher after age 45, and then substantially higher for ages 75 –84, although still lower than other races and ethnicities.The most common comorbidities related to mortality were high blood pressure (a.k.a., hypertension), cardiac arrest, septicemia (serious infection), and respiratory failure.

What does this mean? Coexisting conditions are common in people with MS. They are also largely treatable. These results call for the need to ensure that people of all races and ethnicities who live with MS and their doctors are aware of conditions that can lead to severe consequences. The results also call for the need to ensure that available treatments for these comorbidities are accessible to all people who need them.

Learn more…Empowerment starts here – learn more about how you can control blood pressureThe American Heart Association offers an interactive self-guided lesson for managing blood pressureThe Black MS Experience Summit is an opportunity to connect with others who understand the differences in life with MS for Black people. Register for the August 12 program here.“Racial and Ethnic Trends and Comorbidity Patterns in Multiple Sclerosis Mortality A CDC WONDER Analysis,” by Lilyana Amezcua, Chae Won Kim, Jennifer M. Lobo, Myla D. Goldman, and Min-Woong Sohn, is published in Neurology Open Access 2026;2:e000148.