Black patients with cirrhosis face a troubling combination of discrimination and medical mistrust that threatens their access to quality care, according to two new studies from UT Southwestern Medical Center examining disparities in liver disease treatment.
Researchers surveyed over 1,000 people diagnosed with cirrhosis to assess their experiences with discrimination and trust in the medical system. Both Black and Latino patients reported experiencing discrimination more commonly than their white counterparts, but only Black people showed higher levels of medical mistrust toward healthcare providers.
Social factors compounded these challenges. Lower income and limited health literacy were associated with experiences of discrimination, creating additional barriers to effective care. Senior author Amit Singal noted that “improving trust, communication and access could help close long-standing gaps in liver disease and liver cancer outcomes.”
A second study tracking over 800 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma revealed that routine cancer screening and better patient-provider communication led to earlier detection of liver cancer. Patients with higher health literacy were more likely to receive screenings, and those who reported better communication with their medical teams were diagnosed earlier when treatment is most effective.
The researchers emphasized that these factors influence critical health behaviors including clinic attendance, screening adherence and treatment engagement. While race and socioeconomic status did not predict short-term health outcomes in the studies, the findings highlight systemic issues affecting long-term care quality.
Singal said efforts are already underway to strengthen patient-provider communication, improve health education and expand screening access to ensure all patients receive timely, effective care.
See: “Closing Equity Gaps in Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer Care” (February 2, 2026)
