Targeting social determinants of health to improve care of cardiovascular patients
Author: Disparity Matters
Increasing number of physicians focusing on underserved at-risk populations
A new study by University at Buffalo researchers reveals that air pollution has a more severe impact on mental health in historically redlined neighborhoods across New York State. These areas, once denied mortgages due to discriminatory federal housing policies, continue to face disproportionate health challenges decades after redlining was outlawed in 1968. The study, published in Science of the Total Environment, found a significant link between elevated air pollutants and increased emergency room visits for mental disorders in redlined communities. Lead author Dr. Eun-Hye Enki Yoo stated, “There was a significant association between air pollutant exposure and ER visits throughout these…
A new prognostic model has identified specific risk factors for heart failure among Native American adults, shedding light on the disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease in this population. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, utilized data from the Strong Heart Study, the largest cohort of Native American adults in the U.S.Researchers found that Native American communities experience heart failure rates two to three times higher than other U.S. cohorts. The model pinpointed several significant predictors of heart failure risk, including smoking, obesity, HbA1c levels, and albuminuria. These factors, when combined with diabetes diagnosis, remained strongly…
Launching database of research-tested interventions shown to improve minority health and reduce health disparities
A new study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute has found that living in neighborhoods with higher heat vulnerability is associated with more severe strokes. Researchers examined a decade of acute ischemic stroke admissions at Northwell Health’s comprehensive stroke center in New York, using the Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) to assess patients’ neighborhood-level risk of heat-related mortality. The results, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, showed that patients from high-HVI neighborhoods were 40% more likely to experience severe strokes. This finding highlights the potential impact of climate change and rising temperatures on stroke outcomes,…
A new study reveals that American Indian adults have 2-3 times higher rates of heart failure compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. Researchers developed a risk prediction tool specifically for American Indian populations, finding that smoking, type 2 diabetes, kidney damage, previous heart attacks, and high blood pressure are major modifiable risk factors. Lead author Dr. Irene Martinez-Morata from Columbia University explains, “Implementation of our proposed risk prediction scale in clinical practice can contribute to optimized risk assessment and to the development of preventive strategies to reduce heart failure events and deaths in American Indian communities.” The study…
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that homicide is a major contributor to the widening life expectancy gap between Black and white men in the United States. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison analyzed mortality data from 2019 to 2021, finding that homicide had a greater impact on racial disparities in longevity than even COVID-19 deaths. The study shows that in 2019, Black men were expected to live 71.4 years on average, compared to 76.4 years for white men. By 2020, this gap increased dramatically, with Black men’s life expectancy dropping to 67.7 years while white men’s fell to…
A new study published in Scientific Reports has found significant racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) across different community settings in the United States. Analyzing over 14 million delivery hospitalizations from 2016-2019, researchers discovered that Black women faced higher odds of experiencing SMM compared to White women, regardless of location or community income levels. The study showed that in rural areas, Black women were 50% more likely to experience SMM than White women. In micropolitan areas, Black women had 76% higher odds, while Asian/Pacific Islander women had 54% higher odds. Even in large metropolitan areas with presumably better…
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics reveals alarming trends in suicide rates among young Asian Americans, highlighting significant disparities within this diverse community. The research, led by Dr. Anthony L. Bui of the University of Washington School of Medicine, examined suicide rates from 2018 to 2021 among Asian American and Pacific Islander youth aged 15-24. The study found that suicide rates for young Asian American males increased by 72% and a staggering 125% for females. Despite these increases, the overall suicide rate for Asian American youth (9.17 per 100,000) remains lower than that of non-Asian Americans (10.77 per 100,000). However,…