Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study led by Princeton economist Janet Currie reveals that Black mothers are 20% more likely than white mothers to receive cesarean sections, even when their medical risk levels are identical. The research, which analyzed nearly one million births across 68 hospitals in New Jersey, found the disparity was most pronounced among low-risk pregnancies—suggesting that many of these surgeries may be medically unnecessary.To eliminate patient preference as a factor, researchers focused on unscheduled C-sections performed during labor emergencies. They also compared outcomes among patients treated by the same doctors at the same hospitals. The racial gap persisted, indicating that…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a controversial step by removing numerous web pages dedicated to ensuring diversity in clinical trials. This action follows the Trump administration’s recent ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, sparking concern in the medical research community.The purge has affected a wide range of materials, including draft guidance on clinical trial diversity and discussion papers from various FDA centers. These resources were instrumental in addressing the long-standing issue of underrepresentation of certain populations in medical studies.The removal of these pages is particularly significant given the FDA’s June 2024 draft…
The recent study linking traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) to depression in women sheds light on a pressing issue that disproportionately affects minority communities. While the research, published in the journal Menopause, focused on women in general, it underscores a broader pattern of environmental health disparities that often impact women of color more severely. Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The North American Menopause Society, highlighted a crucial aspect of the findings. She pointed out the troubling connection between socioeconomic status (SES) and depression, noting that individuals with lower SES are disproportionately burdened by TRAP exposures. This observation is particularly relevant…
Life expectancy in the United States is diverging sharply along racial and economic lines, with Native Americans in the western states now living shorter lives than people in Haiti or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meanwhile, Asian Americans enjoy life spans comparable to those in Japan and Switzerland — around 84 years.A study published in The Lancet reveals that disparities in life expectancy among racial and ethnic groups have nearly doubled since 2000. “This is like comparing very different countries,” said Tom Bollyky of the Council on Foreign Relations.Native Americans in the West face some of the harshest conditions,…
Jungyoon Kim examined racial disparities in cancer-clinical trials by highlighting much lower awareness and participation among Black survivors
Launches Interpreter Training to Bridge Language Barriers in Healthcare
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A new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has revealed that individuals with sickle cell disease have brains that appear significantly older than their actual age. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that participants with sickle cell disease had brains that looked an average of 14 years older than expected.The research team, led by Dr. Andria Ford, chief of the section of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases at WashU Medicine, conducted brain MRI scans and cognitive tests on over 200 young, Black adults with and without sickle cell disease. Using a brain-age prediction…
A study has revealed a concerning decline in mental health among U.S. adults from 2011 to 2022, with minority communities bearing the brunt of this crisis. The data points to an increase in anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic minorities.Researchers identified several factors contributing to this trend, including systemic discrimination, economic hardship, and limited access to mental health care. These issues are more prevalent in minority communities, compounding the mental health decline observed over the past decade. For instance, economic instability and chronic stress related to systemic discrimination have been shown to exacerbate mental…