Researchers have uncovered how two common gene variants in African Americans can lead to kidney failure, potentially paving the way for new therapies to address racial disparities in kidney disease. The study, led by Duke University School of Medicine, provides crucial insights into the APOL1 gene variants G1 and G2, which are significant risk factors for kidney disease among African Americans. African Americans develop end-stage kidney disease at four times the rate of white Americans and represent over 30% of people on dialysis. The APOL1 gene variants, which evolved as a defense against African sleeping sickness, are present in 13%…
Author: Disparity Matters
Recent analysis by Military.com reveals alarming disparities in suicide rates among racial minority groups in the military and veteran communities. According to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department, service members and veterans of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent face a suicide risk 350% higher than the national average. Black and Hispanic veterans and troops experience rates twice the national average. Patricia B. Glenn, senior clinical director at Stop Soldier Suicide, points to sociopolitical factors and historical racism as potential contributors to this disparity. The increased suicide rates among minority service members have risen by 57%…
In California, there’s a big problem with the health of Black mothers and their babies. Black mothers are almost four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than White mothers. Also, Black babies are twice as likely to die before they turn one year old. Black women are more likely to have babies born too early compared to White women. To help fix this, California started programs like the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program in 1989 and the Perinatal Equity Initiative in 2018. These programs are trying to find ways to make sure Black mothers and their babies are healthier.…
Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine
In a pivotal move to combat the escalating childhood obesity crisis in the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a series of policy statements and clinical guidelines advocating for the broader use of metabolic and bariatric surgery among adolescents. This recommendation comes amid growing evidence supporting the surgery’s effectiveness in this age group. However, the AAP’s publications also shed light on significant disparities and underutilization of these potentially life-saving procedures among minority and underserved populations. The AAP’s guidelines emphasize the urgent need to address these health disparities, pointing out that the risk and severity of obesity…
New research reveals that children living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence show significant changes in brain development. The study, published in Developmental Psychology, found that exposure to community violence alters how a specific part of the brain detects and responds to potential threats, potentially leading to poorer mental health outcomes. Researchers analyzed data from 708 children and teens aged 7 to 19, recruited from 354 families enrolled in the Michigan Twins Neurogenetic Study. Most participants lived in areas characterized by above-average levels of poverty and disadvantage. Using functional MRI scans, the study observed that participants who reported more…
A new KFF report reveals that while racism is perceived as a major problem across various sectors of American society, it is seen as less prevalent in healthcare compared to areas like politics and criminal justice. According to the survey, only 32% of the public view racism as a major problem in healthcare, significantly lower than the 56% who see it as a major issue in politics and 54% in the criminal justice system. The study highlights stark racial disparities in perceptions of racism. Black adults are consistently more likely than White adults to identify racism as a major problem…
New research reveals that everyday discrimination can fuel smoking habits and increase heart disease risk, with Hispanic women particularly affected. A study by New York University researchers found that discrimination’s impact on cardiovascular health varies significantly across racial, ethnic, and gender groups.The investigation, part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), involved 6,814 participants aged 45 to 84 who were initially free of clinical cardiovascular disease. Researchers examined the relationships between discrimination, cigarette smoking, and indicators of cardiovascular disease risk.Hispanic women emerged as a group uniquely impacted by this chain of events. The study showed a significant indirect effect of…
Large majorities of U.S. adults say racism is a problem across various aspects of society, with Black adults far more likely than White adults to view it as a major issue, according to a new KFF survey on racism, discrimination, and health. The survey found that at least half of adults say racism is a major problem in U.S. politics (56%), criminal justice (54%), and policing (51%). However, only 32% see racism as a major problem in health care. Black adults are at least 20 percentage points more likely than White adults to view racism as a major problem in…
Young Black and Hispanic women with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience worse health outcomes and greater challenges during pregnancy compared to young white women, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology. Researchers from nine MS centers across the United States analyzed medical records of 294 women whose pregnancies resulted in live births. The study found that Black and Hispanic women faced significant socioeconomic disadvantages likely to adversely affect their health. Dr. Riley Bove, senior author from the UCSF Department of Neurology, stated, “At the time of conception, they were more likely to live in under-resourced neighborhoods, to be…