A new study published in the Journal of Perinatology reveals stark racial disparities in the diagnosis, severity, and treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a serious brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation at birth. Analyzing data from over 31 million births between 2010 and 2018, researchers found that African American newborns were 60% more likely to develop HIE than white infants and twice as likely to experience severe forms of the condition. The disparities didn’t stop at diagnosis. African American infants with HIE had significantly higher overall mortality rates, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.14. However, when comparing only infants…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new CDC report reveals a sharp rise in fatal falls among older Americans, with white seniors disproportionately affected. From 2003 to 2023, death rates from unintentional falls surged more than 70% for adults aged 65 to 74, over 75% for those 75 to 84, and more than doubled for people 85 and older.In 2023 alone, more than 41,000 retirement-age Americans died from falls—about one in every 56 deaths in that age group. More than half of those deaths occurred among people 85 and older, and 87% of those were white. “Kind of a flip of the traditional disparity lens,”…
Removing a modest $45 fee for 3D mammography led to a measurable increase in access to this advanced breast cancer screening—especially among underserved communities, according to a new UCLA study.Digital breast tomosynthesis, or 3D mammography, offers clearer images and fewer false positives than traditional methods. But even small out-of-pocket costs can deter patients from choosing it. After UCLA eliminated the fee in 2021, usage jumped from 83.7% to 91.5%. The gains were even more striking among historically marginalized groups.Asian, Black, and Hispanic women saw increases of 5.0, 6.2, and 6.2 percentage points respectively beyond the gains seen in white patients.…
Pregnant women from racial and ethnic minority groups who are also battling cancer face significantly higher risks of complications, according to new research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025. The study, led by Dr. Duke Appiah of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, found that these women are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes—including hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and maternal mortality. “Maternal mortality was high among patients with cancer for all racial and ethnic groups,” Appiah said, “but the rates were even higher for minority women.” The study revealed…
New research shows that systemic social factors—including racism and police violence—may heighten the risk of psychotic experiences among young adults of color in the United States. The study, published in Schizophrenia Bulletin, analyzed survey data from more than 1,500 individuals aged 18 to 29.The findings reveal sharp disparities. Young adults identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color were 60% more likely to report psychotic experiences in the past year compared with their White peers. Those who experienced police violence were 52% more likely to report such symptoms. Everyday discrimination, substance use, and childhood abuse also increased the odds of…
Digital coaching and peer navigation may improve outcomes for breast cancer survivors, particularly Black women who face stark disparities in care, according to a new study led led by Dr. Robin Lally and her team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.The REALIZE study, co-led by Dr. Juan Santamaria, focuses on African American women, who are diagnosed with breast cancer at lower rates but experience a 40% higher mortality rate. Early findings suggest that pairing newly diagnosed patients with peer survivors from their own communities can build trust, improve communication with providers, and increase adherence to treatment. “Navigated women reported…
Unintentional falls have become a rising cause of death among older Americans, but the impact is not evenly felt across racial lines. According to a new federal report, white seniors account for the vast majority of fatal falls, with 87% of deaths in the oldest group—those 85 and older. From 2003 to 2023, the death rate from falls soared by more than 70% for adults ages 65 to 74. For seniors between 75 and 84, the increase exceeded 75%, and deaths more than doubled for those over 85.Last year alone, more than 41,000 older Americans died from falls—roughly one in…
A new national study reveals persistent racial and ethnic disparities in adolescent mental health care, particularly in access to outpatient, school-based, and telemental health services. Drawing on data from over 23,000 adolescents, researchers found that non-Hispanic White teens were significantly more likely to receive mental health treatment than their peers from minority backgrounds.Only 21.9% of non-Hispanic Black adolescents and 25.6% of Hispanic adolescents reported receiving any mental health visit, compared to 31.7% of White adolescents. The gap was even wider in telemental health, where just 8.1% of Asian, Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander adolescents accessed services, versus 17.0% of White adolescents.Prescription…
A decade-long analysis of U.S. adults reveals that racial and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular health have remained stubbornly unchanged, despite national efforts to close the gap. Using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) metrics, researchers found that Black adults consistently had the lowest cardiovascular health scores, while Asian adults had the highest. From 2011 to 2020, Black adults scored an average of 62.0 on the LE8 scale, compared to 67.7 for White adults and 71.2 for Asian adults. Latino/Hispanic adults scored 65.9. These differences held steady over time, with no significant improvement in the overall gap. However, disparities…
Patients with type 2 diabetes who prefer non-English languages are significantly less likely to receive prescriptions for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), according to a study of over 69,000 adults in a large U.S. health system. Despite being more likely to use insulin and have uncontrolled diabetes, only 7.4% of patients with non-English language preference (NELP) had a CGM prescription, compared to 12.7% of English-preferring patients. After adjusting for age, sex, race, insurance, and clinical factors, the disparity persisted. Patients with NELP had 4.1% lower adjusted probability of receiving a CGM. Among insulin users and those with poorly controlled diabetes, the…