A new study finds that critically injured trauma patients without health insurance face a higher risk of having life-saving care withdrawn sooner compared to insured patients, highlighting stark disparities in U.S. healthcare. Researchers analyzed data from over 300,000 adult trauma patients and found that after adjusting for patient and hospital factors, uninsured individuals had significantly earlier withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy compared to those with Medicaid or private insurance. “Our study suggests that a patient’s ability to pay may be associated with a shift in decision-making for WLST,” said lead researcher Dr. Graeme Hoit of the University of Toronto. The mean…
Author: Disparity Matters
Launching video series to provide Black birthing people essential tools to advocate for their health
Launching video series to provide Black birthing people essential tools to advocate for their health
A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals that addressing racial disparities in colonoscopy follow-up and quality could significantly reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) deaths among Black individuals. The research, led by Dr. Oguzhan Alagoz from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that eliminating these disparities could decrease CRC incidence by up to 15%, mortality by 19%, and increase life-years gained by 7% for Black adults. The study highlights that while improving screening rates is important, it’s not enough to close the racial gap in cancer deaths. Dr. Alagoz stated, “To truly close the racial gap in cancer…
A new study reveals that limited access to high-performing Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in vulnerable counties is exacerbating health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities and low-income individuals in the United States and contribute to significant health costs for these populations.Most Medicare beneficiaries, especially those from minority groups, are increasingly turning to Medicare Advantage plans. However, many struggle to find options with high star ratings in their areas. The study found that counties with higher proportions of racial and ethnic minorities and low-income individuals have fewer high-performing MA plans available.”Our findings show that residents of counties that are disadvantaged across…
A new study by Dr. Diane Mahoney of the University of Kansas Medical Center has uncovered significant health disparities affecting Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors. The research, which analyzed data from the NIH All of Us Research Program, found that social determinants of health (SDOH) contribute to poorer health perceptions among these groups. Dr. Mahoney, an assistant professor and nurse practitioner, was inspired to investigate this topic due to the lower survival rates for Black and Hispanic women with ovarian cancer, despite lower incidence compared to white women. Her study examined how factors like neighborhood characteristics, discrimination, food and housing…
Recent research indicates that Black Americans face significantly greater health risks from air pollution than other racial groups. The study reveals that they are more likely to succumb to illnesses related to air pollution exposure. This disparity highlights a critical health inequality that has profound implications for communities of color. These findings correlate with previous understandings that racial residential segregation exacerbates air quality issues. In heavily segregated areas, levels of harmful air pollutants, including fine particulate matter, are often alarmingly high. These zones not only experience an increased quantity of pollution, but the pollution present is more concentrated in toxic substances.…
In a move to address oral health disparities, more states are authorizing dental therapists to provide basic dental care in underserved communities. These mid-level practitioners can perform procedures like filling cavities and extracting diseased teeth under a dentist’s supervision. With about 58 million Americans living in areas with dentist shortages and only a third of dentists accepting Medicaid, dental therapists are seen as a potential solution to improve access to care.The impact is particularly significant for minority and low-income populations. More than half of Medicaid enrollees are Black, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaska Native, and children of color experience…
Minnesota’s opioid epidemic continues to disproportionately impact communities of color, according to a recent analysis by Sahan Journal. The study of state death records from 2019 to 2023 reveals stark racial disparities in opioid overdose deaths.Native Americans were found to be at least 15 times more likely to die from opioid overdoses than white people. Somali Minnesotans faced twice the risk, while Latino Minnesotans were 1.5 times more likely to suffer fatal overdoses compared to their white counterparts.Dr. Kumi Smith, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, noted, “In Minnesota, we are the worst. We’re No. 1 in terms of…
A new study from UC San Francisco researchers has uncovered significant disparities in access to critical stroke care services across the United States. The 14-year study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that hospitals in low-income communities are up to 42% less likely to obtain stroke center certification compared to those in areas of average socioeconomic status. Lead investigator Renee Y. Hsia, MD, a UCSF professor of emergency medicine, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “Some hospitals do not have the necessary resources to treat patients experiencing certain types of strokes.” The research examined 5,055 acute, non-federal hospitals from 2009…