Doctors often use mathematical equations to calculate a person’s lung function, risk of kidney disease and other aspects of health. The answers help determine what treatment to select, whether to place a person on a transplant list, and even whether they’re eligible for disability benefits or certain jobs. But many of these equations adjust the math based on a person’s race, often downplaying health risks in Black people and other people of color. Usha Lee McFarling (above), an award-winning science correspondent with the medical news website STAT, discusses her coverage of race corrected algorithms. See “Reporting on race-free equations: A…
Author: Disparity Matters
A recent agreement between the Biden-Harris administration and pharmaceutical companies is set to significantly reduce prescription drug costs for thousands of Native American elders on Medicare. The deal, announced by the White House, will lower out-of-pocket expenses for senior citizens through provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, starting January 1, 2026. This development is particularly crucial for Indian Country, where American Indians and Alaska Natives face the highest rates of diabetes (14.7 percent) among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Diabetes is the fourth-leading cause of death among Native Americans across Indian Country. Dr. Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan, director…
Recent efforts to restrict social media access for teenagers could inadvertently harm the mental health of marginalized youth, according to researchers and experts. As lawmakers push for age restrictions and warning labels on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, concerns are being raised about the potential loss of crucial support systems for young people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Linda Charmaraman, a research scientist at Wellesley Centers for Women, warns that social media bans could disproportionately affect these groups, who often rely on online platforms to combat isolation and affirm their identities. Her research, published in the Handbook of Adolescent Digital…
As record-breaking temperatures sweep across the United States, a new study highlights alarming disparities in access to air conditioning among different racial and ethnic groups. The findings reveal that Black and Hispanic households are disproportionately affected by extreme heat, facing greater health risks during increasingly frequent heat waves. According to the study, about 15% of Black-led households and 14% of Hispanic-led households lack air conditioning equipment, compared to only 10% of White households. This gap in access to cooling systems leaves millions of people of color more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and death. The disparity extends beyond mere ownership of air conditioning…
A recent study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation has revealed alarming disparities in the effectiveness of bystander CPR across different racial and gender groups. The research, which analyzed over 623,000 patient records, found that while bystander CPR generally improves survival rates, its benefits are significantly reduced for Black individuals and women. The study showed that on average, those who received bystander CPR had a 28% higher chance of survival compared to those who did not. However, the outcomes varied dramatically by race and gender. White men who received bystander CPR were 41% more likely to survive than if…
Funding Native American-led research on addiction and pain
Northwestern Medicine researchers have uncovered significant racial disparities in uterine serous carcinoma (USC), a rare and aggressive form of endometrial cancer. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that USC tumors in Black patients exhibit more aggressive and immunosuppressive characteristics compared to those in white patients. Dr. Julie Kim (above), senior author of the study, emphasized the impact of environmental and societal factors on health outcomes. “Our environment, our behaviors, societal stressors, they all impact us psychologically as well as physically,” she said. The research team performed single-nuclei RNA sequencing on USC tumor samples from…
A coalition of 150,000 African American churches is calling on Congress to address the alarming health disparities facing Black communities in the United States. The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) cites recent studies showing that Black Americans experienced 1.6 million excess deaths compared to white Americans over the past two decades, not including COVID-19 fatalities. NBCI President Rev. Anthony Evans is demanding a $2.25 trillion investment over 10 years starting in 2025 to tackle this crisis. “The Black Church must stand up and use its 27.7 million votes to protect the health of Black people in this 2024 election,” Evans stated. The…
Colorism, the prejudice favoring lighter skin tones over darker ones, is emerging as a significant factor in health disparities among people of color in the United States. This insidious form of discrimination can have profound effects on both mental and physical health, according to experts and individuals who have experienced it firsthand. Jonnae Thompson, a 37-year-old actress and comedian, recalls being called “charcoal” in kindergarten, an experience that negatively impacted her self-esteem. Similarly, Shannon Brown, 34, from the Bronx, remembers being called “midnight” by classmates. These early experiences of colorism can lead to long-lasting mental health issues. The health care system often…
A new study led by Eden King, professor at Rice University, has uncovered significant racial disparities in the language physicians use in electronic health records (EHRs). The research analyzed EHRs of Black, white, and Hispanic or Latino patients treated by 281 doctors in a major metropolitan area. Using advanced natural language processing, the study found that notes for Black and Hispanic or Latino patients contained more negative adjectives like “unkind” and “stupid,” as well as words associated with fear and disgust. In contrast, records for white patients featured more positive language, including words like “supportive” and “kind.” “Language and communication are central…