A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has uncovered significant disparities in pregnancy outcomes among women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) across different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The research, led by Dr. Riley Bove, a National MS Society Harry Weaver Scholar, examined medical records from nine MS centers, analyzing 294 pregnancies resulting in live births between 2010 and 2021. Key findings reveal that Black and Hispanic/Latinx women with MS tend to enter pregnancy at a younger age and with higher levels of disability compared to their white counterparts. The study also found…
Author: Disparity Matters
Tuberculosis continues to disproportionately affect minority and immigrant populations in the United States, with approximately two-thirds of new cases occurring among non-U.S. born persons, according to recent data presented by Dr. Carmen Sierra at the DNPs of Color annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Despite efforts to eliminate the disease, 13 million Americans are living with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), with 8.9 million cases remaining untreated. While active TB infections have become rare among native-born Americans, rates are increasing, with 8,331 new cases reported in 2022. The disease shows significant racial disparities, affecting Asian (36% of new cases), Hispanic or Latino (31%), and…
Pregnant women in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” face significantly higher risks of premature births and low birth weight babies, a Human Rights Watch report reveals. The 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, home to about 200 petrochemical plants and refineries, has long been associated with elevated cancer rates. Now, research shows its impact extends to infant health. In the most polluted areas, low birth weight rates reach 27%, more than triple the national average of 8.5%. Preterm birth rates climb as high as 25.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 10.4%. “Our study reveals that pollution…
Despite cervical cancer being largely preventable, a troubling rise in cases has been observed among women in impoverished U.S. regions. Dr. Sarah Dilley, an assistant professor of gynecologic oncology at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute, highlights that while economic status is a significant factor, it does not entirely explain the racial disparities seen in cervical cancer statistics. Black and Native American women face higher incidence and mortality rates, pointing to a complex interplay of socioeconomic and racial factors influencing health outcomes. The lack of data on Native women in the study underscores the ongoing issue of underrepresentation in medical research,…
People with multiple chronic conditions reported persistently high levels of anxiety and depression, and worse physical function, according to a new study from Northwestern Medicine. Compared to white study participants, those who identified as non-white experienced worse health-related quality of life as multiple chronic health conditions increased, the study found. “As people get older, it’s not just that they develop hypertension and that’s it. It’s that these conditions — which are often very manageable — start to accumulate, and, unfortunately, along with that come some negative quality-of-life side effects,” said corresponding study author Eileen Graham, associate professor of medical social…
A recent report published in The Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that while cancer deaths in the United States have decreased by one-third since 1991, significant racial disparities continue to exist.The study, which analyzed data from 2000 to 2020, found that Black Americans are still 12% more likely to die from cancer compared to white Americans, down from 26% in 2000. Dr. Tomi Akinyemiju (above), a co-author of the report and cancer epidemiologist at Duke Global Health Institute, attributes the overall decline to advancements in screening, prevention, and treatment strategies. However, she notes that these benefits are not…
A new analysis by the Urban Institute has revealed significant racial disparities in preventable hospitalizations among Medicaid patients. The study, published on Wednesday, found that Black Medicaid enrollees were more likely to be hospitalized for preventable conditions compared to their white counterparts. The analysis focused on preventable conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and heart failure. Among patients previously diagnosed with heart failure and eligible for Medicaid through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, 12.7 percent of Black patients experienced preventable hospitalizations. This rate was nearly double that of white enrollees, of whom only 7.2 percent faced…
Significant disparities in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) attendance among African American, Hispanic, and young populations has been found in a new study. According to the research led by Sarah Zemore, Ph.D., a senior scientist with the Alcohol Research Group in Emeryville, California, these groups are not receiving optimal care, which is concerning given the effectiveness of mutual-help groups in initiating and sustaining recovery from alcohol use disorders.Alcoholics Anonymous, established nearly 90 years ago, is renowned for its 12-step approach to recovery, which has become a fundamental part of treatment for alcohol and other drug use disorders in the United States. Despite…
The Cancer Moonshot, Public Policy, and Medically Underserved Cancer Care Communities from the National Minority Quality Forum and the CEO Roundtable on Cancer. After decades of collaborative effort and relentless pursuit of innovation, the United States is at a pivotal juncture in the fight against cancer, poised to leverage remarkable scientific advancement and cutting-edge technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), to transform cancer care. The integration of AI/ML can enhance early detection, streamline clinical trials, and facilitate personalized treatment plans, enabling a more proactive and informed approach to cancer care. The conclusion of this journey, however, will…
“Across the nation, studies show that Black patients are two to three times less likely than white patients to be seen at private academic medical centers, which have a reputation for providing superior care. Uninsured patients are five times less likely than patients with private insurance to be seen at these types of hospitals. Working at NYU Tisch, the private hospital that was part of the university, we knew that when EMS picked up unhoused patients in an ambulance, they would never bring those patients to the private hospital. They only brought them to Bellevue, the public hospital affiliated with…