Date of Conferral
7-7-2026
Date of Award
July 2026
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Health Sciences
Advisor
Raymond Panas
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition with insufficient research regarding risk factors influencing MS severity score (MSSS), progression and diagnosis among Hispanic adults living in the United States. This cross-sectional study assessed factors associated with MS score, progression and diagnosis using secondary data from the International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study (iMSMS). Guided by the ecological model, the study included N = 576 participants with MS. Manuscript 1 explored the association between body mass index (BMI), sodium consumption, and the MS severity score in a Hispanic adult population. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine whether age and employment status predicted MSSS. The model was statistically significant, F(6, 489) = 16.43, p < .001, explaining 16.8% of the variance in MS scores (R² = .168, adjusted R² = .158). Manuscript 2 examined the relationship between antibiotic allergies, probiotic intake, and MS progression among Hispanic adults. A multinomial logistic regression model was statistically significant, χ²(14) = 150.287, p <.001, indicating that the predictors collectively contributed to distinguishing between MS disease course categories. Younger age (p < .001), antibiotic allergy (p < .037), and being employed (p < .016) were significant predictors of relapsing-remitting MS. Manuscript 3 assessed whether fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs-valeric acid, propionic acid, and acetic acid) predicted MS diagnosis among Hispanic women. A binary logistic regression analysis showed that none of the SCFAs—acetic acid (p = .112), propionic acid (p = .472), or valeric acid (p = .972)—were statistically significant predictors of MS diagnosis. These findings may promote social change by informing culturally responsive care and advancing health equity for Hispanic adults with MS.
Recommended Citation
Ayala-Viqueira, Juliana, "Fecal Fatty Acids and Other Risk Factors Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Score, Progression and Diagnosis Among Hispanic Adults" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20346.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20346
