A genetic variant found predominantly in people of Hispanic/Latino origin increases the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children by about 1.4 times, according to a new study from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. This discovery may help explain why Hispanic/Latino children in the United States are 30-40% more likely to develop ALL, the most common childhood cancer, compared to non-Hispanic white children. The study, published in Cell Genomics, identified a variant on the IKZF1 gene present in about 30% of Hispanic/Latino people in the U.S. but virtually absent in those of predominantly European ancestry. Using genetic fine-mapping…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study has found that a genetic variant present in about 30% of Hispanic and Latino children in the U.S. increases their risk of developing a type of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by around 1.4 times. The variant is very rare in children of mostly European ancestry. The research, led by Dr. Adam de Smith from the University of Southern California, helps explain why Hispanic and Latino children are 30-40% more likely to get ALL compared to non-Hispanic white children. By analyzing genetic data from nearly 10,000 Hispanic children, over 1,000 non-Hispanic white children, and 300 East Asian…
Black men face the lowest odds of receiving a donor heart offer from transplant teams, according to a new study published in JAMA. The research, led by Dr. Khadijah Breathett of Indiana University, reveals significant disparities in heart transplant acceptance rates based on race and gender. The study analyzed data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) for adults listed for heart transplants between October 2018 and March 2023. Researchers found that white women had the highest probability of having a donor heart accepted, followed by Black women, white men, and Black men. The first offer acceptance rates were 17.5% for…
A new study by Penn Medicine researchers reveals that health care algorithms can both improve and exacerbate racial and ethnic disparities in access to care, quality of care, and health outcomes for patients. The systematic review, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined 63 studies from 2011 onwards, focusing on the impact of algorithms used in clinical care, resource allocation, and health care management. Lead author Dr. Shazia Mehmood Siddique emphasized the need for transparency in algorithm use. “What we know is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many algorithms embedded in patient health records that are…
A new study from the Milken Institute School of Public Health reveals that racial disparities in pollution-related illnesses have worsened over the past decade, despite national efforts to reduce air pollution. Researchers found that from 2010 to 2019, white communities benefited more from pollution-reducing legislation than communities of color. Lead author Gaige Kerr expressed surprise at the findings, stating, “We were pretty surprised” that the gap between white America and Black and Brown America widened with respect to pollution-associated diseases. The study analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Global Burden of Disease, focusing on population demographics, air…
A new study reveals significant disparities in preterm birth rates across racial, ethnic, and nativity groups in the United States, with U.S.-born women experiencing higher rates compared to their non-U.S.-born counterparts. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from over 34 million singleton live births between 2009 and 2018. The study found that among U.S.-born women, Black women had the highest overall preterm birth rate at 12.1%, while white women had the lowest at 7.2%. For non-U.S.-born women, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander women had the highest rate at 9.8%, with white women again having the lowest at…
Black and Latinx residents in Austin face higher rates of asthma-related emergency room visits due to increased air pollution in their neighborhoods, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin found that areas with higher levels of air pollution were associated with a higher proportion of Black and Latinx residents compared to White residents. The study suggests that pollution exposure may account for the higher number of asthma-related emergency visits in these communities. “We are exploring the connections between the neighborhood environment and lung health so…
Counties with strong civic infrastructure, including accessible voting and ample information sources, tend to be healthier, a new report from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps reveals. The study, led by Sheri Johnson, director of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, found that counties facilitating greater civic participation often experience better social and economic opportunities and longer life expectancy. The report highlights significant regional disparities, with healthier counties concentrated in the Northeast and Western United States. In Wisconsin, the healthiest counties form a strip across the southcentral and southeast parts of the state, including Madison and Milwaukee. However, discrimination and…
Drug overdose death rates in the U.S. remained high in 2022, with disparities among racial and ethnic groups, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths was 32.4 per 100,000 standard population in 2022, a slight decrease from 32.8 in 2021. However, rates varied significantly by race and ethnicity. In 2022, the highest rate was among American Indian and Alaska Native people at 56.6 deaths per 100,000, followed by Black people (44.3), White people (32.6), Hispanic people (21.6), and Asian people (5.6). Misclassification of race and Hispanic origin…