Vietnamese Americans experience liver cancer rates eight to nine times higher than other Asian American subgroups and non-Hispanic whites, according to a recent study. The findings, spanning 1988 to 2011, also revealed Vietnamese Americans have the highest liver cancer mortality rate. Dr. Alka Kanaya, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, noted the inadequacy of aggregated Asian American health data, which can mask disparities. “Part of my interest is in seeing the high rates of diabetes and heart disease in my own family and Asian Indian background but also recognizing that there’s a real inadequacy of data in…
Author: Disparity Matters
More than 7 million women of childbearing age live in maternal health care deserts across the U.S., with Mississippi having the highest percentage of residents impacted at 23.5%, according to an analysis by the March of Dimes. The report found that 2.2 million women live in maternity care deserts, counties with no obstetric hospitals or birth centers and no obstetric providers. An additional 4.8 million live in counties with limited access to maternity care. Racial disparities persist, with American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations being disproportionately represented in maternal care deserts. Rural counties make up the vast majority…
Black children, especially those from low-income families, are experiencing earlier onset of menstruation and more irregular cycles compared to other racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Apple Women’s Health Study. The study, which included over 71,000 participants born between 1950 and 2005, found that while all groups are experiencing their first period at increasingly younger ages, this trend is most pronounced among Black, Asian, and other nonwhite ethnicities, as well as those of lower socioeconomic status. Lead author Zifan Wang, a postdoctoral research fellow, noted that early menarche…
African Americans are disproportionately affected by sarcoidosis, yet significantly underrepresented in clinical trials for potential treatments, according to a new report by the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR). Bernie Mac (above) died from sarcoidosis in 2008. The analysis, conducted in partnership with Acclinate, a healthcare technology company focused on diversifying clinical trials, found that out of 3,085 sarcoidosis patients across 35 clinical trials, only 17% were African American, despite the group making up over 30% of the total patient population. Sarcoidosis, a rare inflammatory disease that causes lumps of cells to form in various organs, impacts an estimated 150,000 to…
Racial and ethnic segregation remains a critical social determinant of health, significantly impacting breast cancer outcomes in the United States. A recent study highlights how residential segregation, both economic and residential, contributes to the prevalence of disparities in breast cancer stage at presentation among minority communities. These differences are alarming, showing how systemic factors create unequal access to early detection and healthcare resources.In particular, the article underscores that individuals living in segregated neighborhoods experience increased mortality rates due to late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer. The barriers to access stem not only from socioeconomic status but also from the limited availability…
Recent research reveals that early life experiences significantly influence cognitive outcomes, particularly among Black and white Americans over 50. A cross-sectional study led by Xi Chen, PhD, from the Yale School of Public Health, found notable disparities in cognitive scores: Black participants averaged 13.5 points, compared to 15.8 points for white participants. Furthermore, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was markedly higher among Black participants at 33.6%, against 16.4% for white participants. The study highlighted that early life circumstances, especially related to education, accounted for 61.5% of racial disparities in cognitive scores and 82.3% in cognitive impairment. Notably, school racial segregation prior to…
The Biden administration is considering new federal rules to protect workers from extreme heat, a move that could safeguard up to 50 million workers, particularly Black and Latinx individuals who are overrepresented in high-risk jobs. The proposed changes to Occupational Safety and Health Act rules would apply to both outdoor and indoor workplaces, addressing the growing threat of heat-related illnesses and deaths. In 2023, the hottest year on record, heat-related deaths in the U.S. tripled compared to recent averages, claiming 2,300 lives. Black and Latinx workers, who make up 45 percent of the outdoor workforce and are heavily employed in warehouse jobs,…
A study from the Apple Women’s Health Study, published in JAMA Network Open, reveals that the average age of menarche, or the first menstrual period, has decreased to 11.9 years, while the time to achieve regular menstrual cycles has increased. This trend, observed over the past 55 years, raises concerns about worsening reproductive and overall health, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. The study analyzed data from over 71,000 women and found that early menarche is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and early death due to prolonged exposure to estrogen. Additionally, a longer time to cycle regularity…
Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder affecting the lungs and digestive system, is failing to identify many babies from minority communities, potentially delaying crucial early treatment. The screening process, which includes a blood test for elevated proteins and subsequent genetic testing, is largely based on clinical trials that primarily involved white children.Dr. Meghan McGarry, a pediatric pulmonologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital, explains that the genetic tests focus primarily on mutations found in people of European ancestry. This bias results in a significant disparity in detection rates. While these tests accurately identify an estimated 95 percent of white babies…
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, accounted for 80% of opioid-related overdoses in the United States in 2023, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The drug claimed the lives of nearly 74,000 Americans in 2022 alone, with Black and Indigenous communities disproportionately affected.CDC data reveals that in 2022, Black Americans experienced fentanyl overdose rates 50% higher than the national average, at 33.7 deaths per 100,000 people. Despite comprising only 13.6% of the U.S. population, Black Americans made up 21.2% of fentanyl deaths. Indigenous people had the second-highest overdose rate at 26.7 deaths per 100,000,…