Latino children experiencing food insecurity at age 4 are nearly four times more likely to develop metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) by age 12, according to a new study led by University of California San Francisco researchers. The findings highlight significant racial disparities in childhood health outcomes. The study, published in Pediatric Obesity, followed two groups of Latina mothers and their children from pregnancy to mid-childhood. Researchers assessed MASLD in 136 children between ages 5 and 12, finding that 29% experienced food insecurity at age 4, and 27% developed MASLD in early to middle childhood. Dr. Sarah Maxwell, lead…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study published in JAMA Health Forum reveals that eliminating socioeconomic disparities in youth physical activity levels could save society over $15 billion in medical costs and productivity losses. The research, conducted by a team from the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, along with collaborators from other institutions, used a computer simulation model to examine the potential impact of equalizing physical activity levels among 6-17 year-olds across different socioeconomic groups. Currently, youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds engage in 10-15% less physical activity than their more affluent peers. The study found that closing…
Wendy Bennett advanced programs improving postpartum weight and diabetes prevention for Black and low-income women.
Black and Hispanic Americans are less likely to receive potentially life-saving CPR during cardiac arrest, according to a 2022 study in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study found that Black and Hispanic people in the U.S. were less likely than white people to receive bystander CPR during out-of-hospital cardiac events. This disparity existed even in victims’ own homes, suggesting a lack of CPR training in some communities. The racial gap is especially concerning given that African Americans face higher cardiac risks overall. Jim Peacock, an epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health, noted that “African-American folks die of heart disease…
A new study suggests the U.S. maternal mortality rate is significantly lower than previously reported, but stark racial disparities remain a critical concern. Research published Wednesday in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology estimates the national maternal mortality rate at 10.4 deaths per 100,000 births, far below the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent figure of 32.9. Lead author Dr. K.S. Joseph said the study’s methods excluded deaths solely identified by a pregnancy checkbox on death certificates, which researchers believe led to overestimation. Despite the lower overall rate, the study found Black pregnant patients are still three…
A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology suggests that maternal death rates in the United States may have been significantly overestimated due to flawed record-keeping practices. Researchers from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School analyzed National Center for Health Statistics data from 1999 to 2021 and found that overall maternal deaths remained stable at just over 10 per 100,000 live births, contradicting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s reports of a sharp increase. The study attributes the discrepancy to the introduction of a checkbox on death certificates in 2003, which has led to misclassification of…
Black Americans are three times more likely to experience kidney failure compared to whites, highlighting a significant racial health disparity in the United States. This increased risk is linked to higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease among Black Americans, all of which can contribute to kidney disease development. Dr. Mandip Kang, a nephrologist at the Southwest Kidney Institute, describes kidney disease as a “silent killer,” noting that symptoms often don’t appear until kidney function has significantly declined. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 7 U.S. adults are estimated to have chronic kidney…
The rate of pregnancy-related deaths is still far too high in New York State, especially among Black pregnant persons, according to two new reports. This is despite continued efforts to reduce maternal mortality especially among racial and ethnic minorities. A total of 121 pregnancy-related deaths occurred from 2018-2020. Black, non-Hispanic women had a pregnancy-related death rate five times higher than White, non-Hispanic women. About three-quarters of these deaths had at least some chance of being prevented. “The number of Black people who die of causes related to pregnancy is indicative of long-standing health disparities resulting from inequitable care and systemic racism,” New…
A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers reveals a concerning trend in cardiac care access across socioeconomic lines. Patients in areas with higher socioeconomic disadvantage are less likely to receive advanced, less-invasive aortic valve replacement procedures compared to their counterparts in more privileged areas. The study, led by LDI Senior Fellows Guy David and Alon Bergman, examined data from 18 states between 2016 and 2018. They focused on the distribution of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and two types of aortic valve replacement: surgical (SAVR) and transcatheter (TAVR). Results showed that patients in areas with higher deprivation scores had reduced…
Adult children of immigrants are significantly overrepresented in the U.S. healthcare workforce, particularly among physicians, surgeons, and other practitioners, according to a new analysis by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). The study, based on 2023 Current Population Survey data, found that U.S.-born nonelderly adults with immigrant parents make up 13% of healthcare practitioners, over double their 6% share of the working-age population. This reflects their comparatively high employment, educational attainment, and income levels. Forty-five percent of adult children of immigrants hold at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 40% of those with U.S.-born parents. They are also more likely to live…