The World Health Organization’s latest report on social determinants of health equity reveals alarming disparities in health outcomes across different social groups. Published on May 6, 2025, the report underscores that where individuals are born, grow, live, work, and age significantly influences their health more than genetic factors or healthcare access. These disparities are not random but are deeply rooted in societal structures and resource allocation. The report highlights that preventable life expectancy gaps are worsening, with some communities experiencing significantly shorter lifespans due to factors like income, education, and social policies. For instance, individuals in countries with the highest…
Author: Disparity Matters
Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, racial disparities in health continue to plague minority communities. Published on May 6, 2025, Deanna Pistono’s article in MinnPost highlights that while there has been progress, the future of federal funding for health care systems remains uncertain, casting a shadow over these advancements. Dr. Kevin Gilliam, medical director at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, notes that the pandemic illuminated long-standing inequities in health care and overall wellness, driven by factors such as poverty and systemic discrimination.Research from the University of Minnesota in 2021 revealed that racial minorities and non-English speakers in Minnesota were more…
Recent data from the American Cancer Society reveals encouraging trends in cancer survival rates among Black Americans. The report highlights a significant decline in cancer mortality, particularly among Black men, who have seen a 49% drop since 1991. This progress is attributed to reductions in smoking initiation among Black teens, advances in treatment, and earlier detections for certain cancers. Despite these improvements, disparities persist. Black men still face a 16% higher mortality rate than White men, and Black women have a 10% higher mortality rate than White women. These differences are not due to higher incidence rates but rather reflect…
A recent study published in BMC Medicine reveals that older adults living in neighborhoods with low food access and low income experience faster cognitive decline compared to their peers in better-resourced areas. The research, which analyzed data from the 2010 Food Access Research Atlas and the 2011–2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study, evaluated 4,768 urban-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older.The study found that participants residing in low food access areas had a more pronounced rate of cognitive decline, which is not part of normal biological aging but rather linked to structural determinants affecting low-income and racial minority communities.The…
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reveals significant disparities in access to pituitary adenoma resection at high-volume facilities (HVFs) in the United States. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine analyzed data from the National Cancer Database, examining 57,807 adults diagnosed with pituitary adenomas between 2004 and 2019. The study found that access to HVFs, which perform at least 25 pituitary adenoma resections annually, is influenced by racial and socioeconomic factors. The findings indicate that older age, non-White race/ethnicity, and Medicaid insurance are associated with lower access to HVFs. Specifically, African American and…
Recent findings presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025 reveal a significant rise in anal cancer rates among older White and Hispanic women. Published on May 5, 2025, the study led by Eli D. Ehrenpreis, MD, analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2017 to 2021. The results show that anal cancer rates increased by 2.9% annually for women and 1.6% for men, with the most pronounced increases among White women over 65, who saw a 4.3% annual rise, reaching 11.4 cases per 100,000 in 2021.Hispanic women over 65 experienced the second-highest increase,…
A recent study published in BMC Public Health reveals the profound impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on chronic health outcomes, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. The research, conducted by Christianah Jemiyo and colleagues, analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System across 33 states from 2019 to 2023. The study found that individuals with high ACE exposure are at increased risk for various health issues, including depression, smoking, coronary heart disease, and stroke.The study highlights significant racial disparities in the effects of ACEs. While White respondents with high ACE scores showed a strong association with many health…
A recent self-assessment conducted by Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) has revealed significant disparities in the representation of skin tones in pre-clerkship dermatology lectures. Published on May 2, 2025, the study found that approximately 60% of images used in these lectures depicted white or light skin tones. This disproportionate representation can hinder medical education and ultimately affect health outcomes for minority communities.The analysis, which examined images using the New Immigrant Survey Skin Color Scale, showed that medium/brown skin tones accounted for only 16.1% of images, while dark/Black skin tones made up 24.4%. Co-author Jeremy Grachan, PhD, emphasized the importance…
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that Black and Hispanic children with high-risk neuroblastoma face significantly worse survival outcomes compared to their white peers, even when treated in frontline clinical trials. Conducted by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center, the study is the first to comprehensively evaluate survival by race and ethnicity in a national cohort of children with this aggressive cancer.Neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial solid tumor in children, presents a stark disparity in outcomes. The study analyzed data from 696 children undergoing chemotherapy induction/consolidation and 935 children in post-consolidation trials through the Children’s Oncology Group.…
A new study reveals that patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are more likely to stick with their treatment when they share racial, ethnic, or gender identities with their oncologists. The findings underscore how shared identity in clinical relationships can influence long-term health outcomes, particularly for minority communities.Published in JAMA Network Open, the study analyzed data from 443 CML patients treated at Kaiser Permanente Southern California between 2007 and 2019. Researchers found that gender concordance between patients and oncologists was linked to a 4.7-percentage point increase in treatment adherence. When both race/ethnicity and gender were shared, adherence rose by 6.7…