A comprehensive federal review by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has uncovered a significant decline in health care quality during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlights a reversal of progress on many key quality measures, raising concerns about patient safety and persistent health equity gaps. Prior to the pandemic, from 2016 to 2019, more than half of the quality metrics showed improvement. However, the situation drastically changed with the onset of COVID-19. In 2020, 38% of measures performed worse than expected, increasing to 47% in 2021. Patient safety measures were particularly affected, with about…
Author: Disparity Matters
Black Americans face significantly higher stroke risks compared to white Americans, despite advances in stroke care over recent decades, according to stroke experts. Research shows Black adults aged 45-64 have a 3-fold higher stroke risk than white adults. In 2019, stroke mortality rates for non-Hispanic Black adults aged 35-64 were 2.4 times higher than for non-Hispanic whites. “We do know that there are racial and ethnic disparities in stroke,” said Dr. Santosh Murthy (above) of Weill Cornell Medicine. He noted Black patients have higher rates of intracerebral hemorrhage occurring at younger ages. Experts cite social determinants of health as key factors…
A new study has found that social factors, including race, education, and location, significantly influence whether stroke patients receive crucial clot-busting drugs. The research, to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 76th Annual Meeting, reveals concerning disparities in stroke care across various demographic groups. The study, conducted by Dr. Chanaka Nadeeshan Kahathuduwa and colleagues at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, analyzed data from 63,983 ischemic stroke patients in Texas. Only 11% of patients received thrombolytic therapy, a time-sensitive treatment crucial for stroke recovery. Results showed that patients from the least socially disadvantaged group were 13% more likely…
Researchers have uncovered how two common gene variants in African Americans can lead to kidney failure, potentially paving the way for new therapies to address racial disparities in kidney disease. The study, led by Duke University School of Medicine, provides crucial insights into the APOL1 gene variants G1 and G2, which are significant risk factors for kidney disease among African Americans. African Americans develop end-stage kidney disease at four times the rate of white Americans and represent over 30% of people on dialysis. The APOL1 gene variants, which evolved as a defense against African sleeping sickness, are present in 13%…
Recent analysis by Military.com reveals alarming disparities in suicide rates among racial minority groups in the military and veteran communities. According to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department, service members and veterans of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent face a suicide risk 350% higher than the national average. Black and Hispanic veterans and troops experience rates twice the national average. Patricia B. Glenn, senior clinical director at Stop Soldier Suicide, points to sociopolitical factors and historical racism as potential contributors to this disparity. The increased suicide rates among minority service members have risen by 57%…
In California, there’s a big problem with the health of Black mothers and their babies. Black mothers are almost four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than White mothers. Also, Black babies are twice as likely to die before they turn one year old. Black women are more likely to have babies born too early compared to White women. To help fix this, California started programs like the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program in 1989 and the Perinatal Equity Initiative in 2018. These programs are trying to find ways to make sure Black mothers and their babies are healthier.…
Investing $210+ million in scientific research on health inequities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and medicine
In a pivotal move to combat the escalating childhood obesity crisis in the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a series of policy statements and clinical guidelines advocating for the broader use of metabolic and bariatric surgery among adolescents. This recommendation comes amid growing evidence supporting the surgery’s effectiveness in this age group. However, the AAP’s publications also shed light on significant disparities and underutilization of these potentially life-saving procedures among minority and underserved populations. The AAP’s guidelines emphasize the urgent need to address these health disparities, pointing out that the risk and severity of obesity…
New research reveals that children living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence show significant changes in brain development. The study, published in Developmental Psychology, found that exposure to community violence alters how a specific part of the brain detects and responds to potential threats, potentially leading to poorer mental health outcomes. Researchers analyzed data from 708 children and teens aged 7 to 19, recruited from 354 families enrolled in the Michigan Twins Neurogenetic Study. Most participants lived in areas characterized by above-average levels of poverty and disadvantage. Using functional MRI scans, the study observed that participants who reported more…
A new KFF report reveals that while racism is perceived as a major problem across various sectors of American society, it is seen as less prevalent in healthcare compared to areas like politics and criminal justice. According to the survey, only 32% of the public view racism as a major problem in healthcare, significantly lower than the 56% who see it as a major issue in politics and 54% in the criminal justice system. The study highlights stark racial disparities in perceptions of racism. Black adults are consistently more likely than White adults to identify racism as a major problem…