Prostate cancer diagnoses are climbing again in the U.S., and Black men are facing the steepest consequences. A recent report from the American Cancer Society shows a 3% annual increase in cases from 2014 to 2021, with the sharpest rise in advanced-stage disease. Black men are 67% more likely to be diagnosed than white men—and nearly twice as likely to die from it.The shift follows changes in screening guidelines. In 2008 and 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advised against routine PSA testing, aiming to reduce overdiagnosis and avoid unnecessary treatments. But researchers now say those recommendations may have…
Author: Disparity Matters
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, yet many face serious and underrecognized health disparities. According to Pfizer, nearly 19.4% of Asian adults report lacking a usual source of health care, compared to 12.9% of white adults. Cost barriers play a major role, with Cambodians and Vietnamese three times more likely to skip doctor visits than other Americans.Preventive care gaps are striking. Cervical cancer screening rates lag significantly among Asian American women, with only 60.5% of Vietnamese women in California reporting a pap test in the past three years, compared with 86.2%…
In response to sweeping federal cuts targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Latino health leaders have launched the National Hispanic Health Research Institute — the first Latino-led community research hub designed to close glaring gaps in health data.The institute’s creation follows the cancellation of more than 600 NIH health disparities projects under President Donald Trump’s administration. NIH scientists criticized the policy, warning it “undermines the NIH mission, wastes public resources and harms the health of Americans and people across the globe.” Latino communities, already underrepresented in federally funded studies, are expected to be hit especially hard by the loss of…
In response to sweeping federal cuts to diversity-focused health research, Latino public health leaders have launched the National Hispanic Health Research Institute, a bold initiative aimed at closing data gaps and addressing health disparities in underserved communities. The institute’s creation follows the cancellation of over 600 health disparities projects by the National Institutes of Health, a move aligned with President Donald Trump’s policy priorities.“Right now, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that every family historically left out of the data is finally seen and counted,” said CEO Ken Barela. He emphasized that when communities are missing…
A new 22-year study reveals that diabetes-related mortality in the United States is not only rising but disproportionately affecting rural communities—especially among Black and American Indian populations. Using CDC WONDER data from 1999 to 2020, researchers found that rural areas consistently had higher death rates across all age groups, genders, and races.The disparities are most severe among racial minorities. In rural regions, Black or African American individuals had a mortality rate of 43.75 per 100,000, compared to 30.96 in urban areas. American Indian or Alaska Native individuals faced an even starker gap: 40.85 in rural areas versus 15.22 in urban…
Mississippi has declared a public health emergency as infant mortality rates soar to levels not seen in over a decade. The crisis is hitting Black families hardest. In 2024, the state recorded 9.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births—nearly double the national average. But for Black infants, the rate was a staggering 15.2, almost three times the national figure. “Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday,” said Dr. Dan Edney, the state’s top health officer. “We cannot and will not accept these numbers as our reality.” Since 2014, more than 3,500 infants in Mississippi have…
Recent federal funding cuts threaten to derail remarkable progress in efforts to curb hepatitis B fatalities among Asian Americans, a population hit harder by the disease than any other group in the United States. While Asian Americans represent just 7% of the nation’s population, they account for a staggering 58% of hepatitis B cases nationwide, according to NBC News. The disparity is even more dramatic in San Francisco, where Asian Americans comprise a third of the population but make up 90% of hepatitis B cases, the San Francisco Health Improvement Project reports.Between 2021 and 2023, hepatitis B deaths in San…
Young immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program continue to face severe health inequities, according to a new national report authored by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, in partnership with United We Dream, the National Immigration Law Center, and the Center for American Progress.The 2024 survey of more than 400 DACA recipients revealed that 19 percent were uninsured—over twice the national average for adults. Among those with coverage, 87 percent relied on employer-sponsored insurance, far higher than the general population, highlighting how access is tied closely to employment. More than 90 percent of…
A new study from the University of Virginia reveals that allostatic load—the cumulative “wear and tear” the body experiences from chronic stress—plays a critical role in breast cancer outcomes and may help explain racial and geographic disparities in survival.Allostatic load is measured through biomarkers that track how stress disrupts multiple systems, including cardiovascular, metabolic, kidney, and immune function. When these systems are strained over time, the body becomes less able to recover, leaving individuals more vulnerable to disease.Researchers followed more than 3,000 women with stage I to III breast cancer. Black women had the highest average allostatic load scores, especially…
A new study reveals troubling disparities in mental health treatment among U.S. adolescents, with Black teens significantly less likely to receive care for depression. Researchers found that fewer than half of adolescents diagnosed with a major depressive episode (MDE) in 2022 received any form of treatment, and only 39% saw a specialist. Using data from nearly 12,000 teens in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the study showed that 19.2% met the criteria for MDE. Among those, just 25% received prescription medication, and 30.5% accessed school-based services. But the gaps were even wider for marginalized groups. Black adolescents…