A new analysis has cast doubt on a widely-cited 2020 study that claimed Black infants were half as likely to survive their first year when cared for by white doctors compared to Black doctors. The original research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, sparked discussions about the urgent need to diversify the medical workforce in the United States. However, a recent reexamination of the data, published in the same journal, suggests that the survival difference observed in the initial study was primarily due to very low birth weight infants, rather than the race of the attending physician.…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals the significant impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on health care expenditures across Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance programs. The research, conducted between October 2023 and April 2024, analyzed data from 14,918 insured adults, shedding light on how non-clinical factors contribute to rising health care costs.For Medicaid beneficiaries, educational attainment and social isolation emerged as key cost drivers. Those with a high school diploma or GED had $2,245 lower annual expenditures compared to those with less education. Conversely, individuals experiencing frequent social isolation faced $2,707 higher yearly health care costs.Medicare…
Launching new Office of Health Equity to address racial disparities
A recent study has unveiled a stark racial disparity in the outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, reveals that Black adults are at a significantly higher risk of dying within 30 days after undergoing this common heart procedure compared to their white counterparts.The study, which analyzed data from over 700,000 CABG procedures performed between 2011 and 2018, found that Black patients had a 33% higher risk of death within a month following surgery. This disparity persisted even after accounting for factors such as age, sex, and preexisting health conditions.Researchers identified several…
A significant initiative by the Regional Coalition to Eliminate Race-Based Medicine in Philadelphia has successfully removed race adjustments from four critical clinical decision support tools. This move marks an important step towards addressing racial disparities in healthcare across the region. The coalition, comprising 12 major health systems and coordinated by Independence Blue Cross, has transitioned to race-neutral tools in lung, kidney, and OB-GYN care. Dr. Seun Ross, Executive Director of Health Equity at Independence Blue Cross, emphasized the importance of this change, stating, “The work that each health system has done is already leading to improved outcomes in our region and…
A recent study involving University of Wisconsin researchers has revealed a disturbing connection between past housing discrimination practices and current childhood asthma rates, shedding light on the enduring health impacts of structural racism in American cities. The research, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found that children living in neighborhoods once designated as “high-risk” for mortgage lending face a significantly higher risk of developing asthma compared to those in other areas. This practice, known as redlining, was widespread in the 1930s and shaped urban landscapes through neighborhood assessments often based on racial segregation. Dr. Christine Seroogy, a…
Despite advances in cardiovascular medicine, a recent study reveals alarming disparities in outcomes for Black patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The research, presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 annual meeting, analyzed data from over 1 million patients between 2016 and 2021. The study found that Black patients are 22% more likely than white patients to die in the hospital following CABG surgery. This stark difference highlights ongoing inequalities in cardiovascular health care delivery in the United States. Dr. Vinicius Moreira, lead author and chief anesthesiology resident at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, emphasized the urgency of addressing these…
New research presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting in Philadelphia reveals a troubling disparity in pain management for Black patients following major surgeries. The study, conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, found that Black patients are less likely to receive comprehensive pain relief strategies compared to their White counterparts. The analysis, which examined data from thoracic and abdominal surgeries performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2016 and 2021, showed that Black patients were 74% more likely to be prescribed oral opioids alone. In contrast, they were 29% less likely to receive multimodal analgesia involving four or more…
Funding development of new wellness, education, and outreach center for underserved communities in downtown Greenville
A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health reveals that doula support substantially enhances maternal health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees. The research, conducted by Elevance Health, Inc., analyzed over one million pregnancies across nine U.S. states from 2014 to 2023. The findings show that women receiving doula care were 47% less likely to undergo cesarean deliveries. This reduction was even more pronounced in counties with high infant mortality rates, where C-section rates dropped by 57% for doula-supported pregnancies. Doulas, non-medical professionals who provide continuous support before, during, and after childbirth, were also associated with a 29% lower…