A recent study by psychiatrists at Columbia University has revealed that the rise of teletherapy has not improved access to mental health care for low-income individuals in the United States. Despite the increased adoption of online therapy services, especially during the pandemic, the research shows that those benefiting from these services are predominantly young, well-educated, and from higher income brackets.The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, analyzed data from 89,619 psychotherapy patients. While the percentage of Americans receiving psychotherapy rose from 3-4% pre-pandemic to approximately 8.5% during and after, this increase did not translate to better access for…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study spanning two decades has uncovered a significant racial disparity in the progression to bariatric surgery among patients with obesity. While discussions about weight-loss surgery with healthcare providers showed no racial differences, Black patients were 44% less likely to undergo the procedure compared to other racial and ethnic groups.The research, conducted by Dr. Alexander Turchin and colleagues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, analyzed data from over 122,000 patients with class II obesity or higher between 2000 and 2020. The findings, published in Annals of Surgery Open, reveal that 9.1% of patients discussed metabolic and bariatric surgery…
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers has revealed that hairstylists serving Black and Latina clients are exposed to alarmingly high levels of airborne toxins in their workplace. The research, published in the Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment, is the first to report indoor air concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in U.S. hair salons catering to these demographics.The study found that median VOC concentrations in salons were two to 175 times higher than in office spaces. This exposure poses significant health risks, particularly for female hairstylists of reproductive age who work during critical periods before and during pregnancy.”At the…
A recent study reveals alarming statistics about dementia risk in the United States, with African Americans facing significantly higher chances of developing the condition. The research, conducted by a team from NYU Langone Health in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and other institutions, indicates that Americans over 55 have a 42% lifetime risk of developing dementia, more than double previous estimates.The study, published in Nature Medicine, utilized data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS), which has monitored vascular health and cognitive function of nearly 16,000 participants since 1987. This makes it the longest-followed cohort of African Americans…
The landscape of cancer in the United States is shifting, with younger women bearing an increasing burden of the disease, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. While overall cancer survival rates have improved, the report highlights concerning trends in cancer incidence among women under 50 and persistent racial disparities in cancer outcomes.The report reveals that six of the ten most common cancers are on the rise, including breast and uterine cancers. Notably, cancer rates are increasing among women under 50 and those aged 50 to 64, while remaining flat or decreasing in men of the same…
“Compared to White people, Hispanic people have lower incidence for most common cancers (female breast, colorectum, lung and prostate), but 36% higher incidence of cervical cancer and almost 2 times higher incidence of stomach and liver cancer, all of which are largely preventable.”
Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine
In a race against time, U.S. health systems are working to ensure their clinical algorithms comply with new federal anti-discrimination regulations. The upcoming May deadline requires federally funded health institutions to vet their decision-making tools for potential bias based on protected traits such as race and sex.The challenge lies in the widespread use of calculators and algorithms that incorporate these characteristics to predict patient outcomes and guide treatment decisions. While some race-based tools have been phased out over the past four years, many others remain in a gray area, leaving health systems grappling with how to balance compliance and clinical…
Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine
Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine