Black children with hepatitis C virus (HCV) face significantly lower odds of receiving proper medical care compared to their white and Hispanic peers, according to a new study. Researchers found that fewer than one in three children with HCV are linked to specialized care, with even fewer receiving treatment. The nationwide study examined 928 children diagnosed with HCV from birth through age 18. Among these children, only 32% were connected to appropriate care, and a mere 12% received the recommended direct-acting antiviral medications. These medications have revolutionized HCV treatment in recent years, with guidelines now recommending treatment initiation as early…
Author: Disparity Matters
A recent report sheds light on the alarming prevalence of brain aneurysms among Black Americans, highlighting a significant health disparity. Jacqueline Rhone, a promising young woman, tragically passed away from a brain aneurysm in May 2024. Her mother, Jazzie Ford, has since dedicated herself to raising awareness about this silent killer through the LaLa Speaks Foundation, named in honor of her daughter.Brain aneurysms, which occur when a blood vessel in the brain weakens and bulges, disproportionately affect Black Americans. According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, African Americans and Hispanics have higher rates of brain aneurysms compared to white individuals. Despite…
A comprehensive analysis spanning five decades has uncovered persistent and deadly health disparities affecting Black children in the United States. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, reveals that Black children are significantly more likely to die from preventable causes compared to their white peers. This disparity is attributed to systemic issues such as inadequate access to healthcare, socioeconomic challenges, and environmental factors. The researchers emphasize that these disparities are not merely statistical anomalies but reflect deep-rooted inequities in the healthcare system. They point out that Black children face higher rates of asthma, obesity, and infant mortality,…
A recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity reveals the complex interplay between maternal obesity and genetic ancestry in influencing birth outcomes. Researchers examined data from the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons cohort, focusing on 1,810 women across four ancestral reference populations. The study found that maternal pre-pregnancy obesity significantly affects birthweight, placental weight, and the likelihood of infants being born large for gestational age (LGA).Genetic distance (GD) refers to the measure of genetic divergence between populations within a species. It quantifies how genetically different two populations are, based on variations in their DNA sequences. Populations with many similar…
A recent study presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting highlights significant disparities in the diagnosis of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) among minority patients. Dr. Marla Black Morgan, a neurologist with Phoebe Neurology Associates, spearheaded the investigation, revealing that racial and ethnic minority patients often experience longer diagnostic journeys compared to their white counterparts.The study, part of Project ASPIRE, examined the diagnostic experiences of patients with gMG, a rare neuromuscular disease. Findings indicate that minority patients face numerous barriers, including limited access to healthcare, socioeconomic challenges, and potential biases within the medical system. These obstacles contribute to delays…
A recent shift to race-neutral lung function tests is significantly improving asthma diagnosis rates among Black children. Historically, lung function equations adjusted for race have underestimated lung capacity in Black patients, leading to underdiagnosis and increased morbidity. Dr. Erica Ridley, an allergist and immunologist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, explains that these outdated equations have contributed to delays in diagnosis and treatment, exacerbating health disparities.Henry Ford Health, serving a large Black population with high asthma rates, has adopted race-neutral spirometry, which has proven twice as effective in identifying asthma in Black patients compared to race-adjusted methods. This change is…
A recent analysis reveals a troubling rise in self-harm incidents among California’s youth, with multiracial girls experiencing the steepest increase. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, examined data from emergency departments and inpatient care facilities between 2005 and 2021, uncovering a more than doubling of self-harm rates among young people. The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found that nearly 73% of adolescents treated for self-harm injuries were girls.White girls aged 15 to 19 had the highest self-harm rates in 2005, but multiracial adolescents have seen a 75% increase in self-harm rates since 2016. By 2021, multiracial teen girls had…
A recent study reveals that 2,679 pregnancy-related deaths in the United States between 2018 and 2022 could have been prevented if national rates matched those of the state with the lowest mortality. This alarming statistic underscores the significant health disparities faced by minority communities, particularly non-Hispanic Black and American Indian or Alaska Native populations, who experience pregnancy-related mortality rates two to three times higher than their white counterparts. Researchers from institutions including the National Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School emphasize that more than 80% of these deaths are preventable. The study highlights the need for standardized, age-adjusted approaches to…
A recent study presented at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine Meeting 2025 sheds light on significant health disparities within Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Dr. Adrienne Poon, an associate professor of medicine at George Washington University, discussed early findings from a community health needs survey conducted by OCA Greater Washington, DC. This research highlights the detrimental effects of the “model minority” myth, which falsely portrays AAPI individuals as universally successful, thereby masking real health and socioeconomic challenges.The survey revealed that AAPI populations are often overlooked in healthcare research and policy development due to aggregated data that…
White Medicare beneficiaries consistently receive potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) at higher rates than their minority counterparts, according to a nationwide study examining over 32 million Medicare beneficiary-years between 2016 and 2019. The research revealed a surprising pattern: White seniors had the highest rates of receiving medications considered risky for older adults, while Black beneficiaries consistently had the lowest rates across all measures studied. For high-risk medications, 14.2% of White beneficiaries received such prescriptions compared to 12.6% of Black, 13.8% of Hispanic, and 10.9% of Asian or Pacific Islander beneficiaries.White seniors with dementia were also more likely to receive medications that could worsen…