A growing number of U.S. states are adopting policies to collect detailed demographic data beyond the federal government’s standard five racial and two ethnic categories, according to a recent report by the Leadership Conference Education Fund. The move aims to better identify and address disparities in access to services like education, housing, and healthcare among marginalized groups. Connecticut, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Washington now mandate disaggregated data collection across all federal categories, while only five states – Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington – include a Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) category. In 2023, lawmakers in Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Nevada passed…
Author: Disparity Matters
Black patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease are three times less likely to receive device-aided therapy than White patients, according to recent research. This disparity is part of a broader pattern of racial inequalities in healthcare outcomes and clinical trial representation. The study also found that Black women face a 41% higher likelihood of breast cancer mortality compared to White women, with the lowest 5-year survival rate among all races and ethnicities. These findings highlight a critical issue in medical research and treatment. Despite the clear impact of these disparities, efforts to translate this knowledge into actionable solutions and representative development-stage research have…
A new survey reveals alarming rates of discrimination and mental health challenges among Latina women in medical training programs across the United States. The study, published in BMC Medical Education, found that nearly 75% of Latina respondents experienced negative ethnicity-based interactions from others in the medical field during their training. Over half of the 230 survey participants, most of whom were medical students, reported experiencing discrimination from patients and their families as well. The mental health toll was significant, with over 76% of respondents reporting depression or depressive symptoms during their medical training. Many also struggled with anxiety, burnout, and discrimination. These…
Black women with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) are facing misdiagnoses and delays in proper treatment, potentially due to racial bias in the healthcare system. Multiple patients reported being initially misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes, leading to years of ineffective management and denial of appropriate medications and technologies. LADA, which affects up to 10% of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, is more similar to type 1 diabetes and requires different treatment. However, misconceptions about race, weight, and age can lead doctors to incorrectly diagnose LADA patients with type 2 diabetes. Phyllisa Deroze, a Black woman, spent eight years misdiagnosed before…
Black Americans remain more likely to die from cancer than their white counterparts, despite overall declining cancer death rates in the United States, a Duke University study reveals. Over the last two decades, the mortality gap has narrowed; in 2000, Black Americans had a 26% higher cancer mortality rate than whites, which decreased to 12% by 2020. The study, led by Tomi Akinyemiju, associate professor at Duke’s Global Health Institute, and Anjali Gupta, a former university scholar, analyzed data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics from 2000 to 2020, focusing on lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancers. While…
A groundbreaking study has revealed significant cardiovascular health improvements among American Indian adults following a decade-long decline in blood lead levels. Researchers, supported by the National Institutes of Health, found that participants who experienced the greatest reductions in blood lead levels saw their systolic blood pressure drop by approximately 7 mm Hg, comparable to the effects of blood pressure-lowering medication. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, focused on 285 American Indian adults from four tribal communities across Arizona, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and South Dakota. These communities often face higher risks of elevated lead exposure due to…
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent prostate cancer surgery has spotlighted the often-undiscussed issue of prostate cancer among African American men. Dr. Whitney Smith, a medical expert, states that one in six African American males will be diagnosed with this disease during their lifetime. The African American community is disproportionately affected, yet the topic remains largely unspoken. Courtney Russell, a resident of Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, exemplifies this silent impact. Russell, who was diagnosed 15 years ago following a routine physical for life insurance, was surprised by the diagnosis as he had no symptoms. The case of Secretary Austin, who underwent treatment for…
“Despite improvements in many key meaures, the United States is still failing its children, especially kids of color, as too many children are blocked from reaching essential milestones of wellbeing. Wide and persistent disparities are hindering American Indian or Alaska Native, Black and Latino young people in particular, and all children in every state generally.”
The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson have reignited discussions about persistent health disparities faced by Black Americans. Johnson, a trailblazer who served as the first registered nurse elected to Congress, died on December 31, 2023, at the age of 89, following what her family describes as negligent care at a rehabilitation facility. Johnson’s son, Kirk, alleges that his mother contracted a fatal infection after being left unattended in unsanitary conditions for an extended period. This distressing incident occurred at a Dallas rehabilitation center where Johnson was recovering from back surgery. The family’s account paints…
A new study by UC Davis Health and Oregon Health & Science University has uncovered significant racial and ethnic disparities in dementia care across the United States. The research, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, reveals that individuals from minoritized populations face greater challenges in receiving timely and accurate dementia diagnoses, as well as appropriate treatment and end-of-life care. The study, which analyzed 71 research papers from 2000 to 2022, found that compared to non-Hispanic whites, minority patients experienced longer delays in diagnosis. For instance, it took 11% longer for Black Americans and 40% longer for Hispanic Americans to receive…