Black Americans continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic in the United States. Although they represent just 12% of the U.S. population, they account for more than one-third of all people living with HIV. According to two federal studies, nearly 55% of all new HIV diagnoses are among Black individuals, the highest rate of any racial or ethnic group.One study, which analyzed data from 61 regions, found that while Black people made up 45% of those tested for HIV—a promising sign—they still faced the highest rates of new diagnoses. Among newly diagnosed Black individuals, gay men represented…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study published in Health Affairs reveals that low-income patients and those from historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups face the steepest burdens from health insurance claim denials. Using a national dataset of remittance records and patient demographics, researchers found that these populations are less likely to contest denied claims and, when they do, receive smaller financial relief.Patients with household incomes under $50,000 were the least likely to challenge denied claims or see their cost-sharing obligations reduced. Even when racial minority patients did contest denials, they achieved lower average savings than non-Hispanic white patients. The study highlights how navigating…
A new study led by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center reveals that survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Black and Hispanic communities experiencing the steepest declines.Before March 2020, OHCA survival rates had been improving. But by 2020, overall survival had fallen to 9%. In majority Black and Hispanic communities, survival dropped by 16.5%, compared to 8.1% in predominantly white communities and 6.5% in integrated areas. These disparities persisted through 2022.The study analyzed data from over 500,000 OHCA patients served by more than 1,300 emergency medical service agencies. Survival rates were lowest…
A new review published in the International Journal of Dermatology reveals a troubling gap in dermatologic research: patients with skin of color (SoC) are significantly underrepresented in studies of inflammatory nail disorders. This lack of inclusion may be contributing to delayed diagnoses and poorer outcomes for these patients. Researchers analyzed 60 studies covering 16 inflammatory nail disorders and over 12,000 patient cases. Only three studies explicitly documented skin phototypes. Many relied on the country of origin of authors or patient cohorts to infer SoC representation, a method the authors say is insufficient. The review found that patients with SoC often…
Cerebral aneurysms—those silent, blister-like bulges in brain arteries—affect millions, but not all communities face the same risks. According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to develop brain aneurysms than white individuals. Women, particularly those over 55, also face a higher risk of rupture.Dr. Scott Simon, a neurosurgeon at Penn State Health, likens an aneurysm to “a blister on a water hose.” Often undetected until a scan for another issue reveals them, these lesions can be fatal if they rupture. Half of all ruptures result in death, and two-thirds of survivors suffer permanent neurological damage.Despite…
A new study from the All of Us research program reveals that inherited heart conditions may be more common than previously thought—and that South Asian individuals face a particularly high risk. Researchers found that 1.2% of people with South Asian ancestry carried pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in cardiomyopathy genes, compared to 0.8% of those with European or African ancestry and 0.5% of East Asian individuals.“These findings highlight the need for larger, more ethnically diverse cohorts,” said Dr. Pankaj Arora and colleagues, who led the study. They emphasized the importance of refining genetic screening methods and understanding ancestry-specific risks.Carriers of…
In New York, a dramatic rise in diabetes among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities is raising alarms and prompting calls for systemic change. State Senator John Liu revealed that diabetes rates in the AAPI population have surged by 40% over the past decade, a trend he described as “quietly devastating.” The crisis is particularly acute in New York City, where many AAPI residents are developing diabetes at lower body mass indexes than other groups, making the condition harder to detect early. “Many AAPI individuals are not overweight by traditional standards, so their risk is often overlooked,” said Dr.…
Black Americans undergoing procedures to restore blood flow to limbs face significantly worse outcomes than their white counterparts, according to new research presented at a major cardiology conference. The study found that Black patients were 46% more likely to require an amputation after treatment for chronic limb-threatening ischemia, a condition caused by blocked arteries in the arms or legs.Researchers tracked over 381,000 patients between 2016 and 2023. Within a year of the procedure, nearly 32% of Black patients had either died or undergone a major amputation, compared to about 28% of white patients. The disparity was largely driven by the…
A new study reveals that physicians who graduate from top-ranked medical schools are significantly less likely to begin their careers in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods. Using data from over 83,000 newly licensed physicians in 2015 and 2020, researchers found that those from elite institutions had about 50% lower odds of practicing in areas ranked in the top 20% for socioeconomic disadvantage.The study linked physician practice locations with the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a measure that captures neighborhood-level disadvantage based on income, education, employment, and housing quality. While primary care doctors were more likely to serve in high-ADI areas, specialists—particularly those from…
A new study analyzing data from over 40,000 adolescents across three major U.S. cohorts reveals a disturbing trend: suicide attempts among Black youth, especially girls, have surged at an alarming rate. Between 1991 and 2017, suicide attempts increased by 73% among Black adolescents, while rates for other racial and ethnic groups remained stable or declined. The most striking finding is the 182% increase in suicide deaths among Black girls from 2001 to 2017—more than triple the increase seen among Black boys during the same period. Despite this, researchers note a “paucity of research” focused on suicidal ideation and attempts in…