A new study reveals alarming racial disparities in deaths from obesity-related chronic kidney disease (CKD) among U.S. adults. Between 2018 and 2023, mortality rates climbed from 0.27 to 0.36 per 100,000, peaking in 2021. While men had slightly higher rates than women, the most striking differences were seen across racial lines.Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander adults faced the highest age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) at 1.27 per 100,000, followed by Black or African American adults at 0.66. In contrast, Asian adults had the lowest rate at just 0.06. White adults had an AAMR of 0.38, underscoring the disproportionate burden on…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new University of Hawaii study reveals a stark 19-year gap in life expectancy between Hawaii’s longest- and shortest-living ethnic groups. While the state overall ranks among the healthiest in the nation, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders continue to experience the most severe health disparities.Researchers found that Chinese residents live an average of 88.2 years, and Japanese residents 84.9 years. In contrast, Native Hawaiians average 77.4 years, and other Pacific Islanders just 69.9 years. “Life expectancy for Native Hawaiians continues to be 10 years less than the life expectancy for the longest-living group,” said researcher Yan Yan Wu. “Also,…
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths in the United States climbed from 868,662 in 2018 to 915,973 in 2023, reversing years of progress and falling hardest on racial and ethnic minority communities. The study finds that the steepest annualized increases in deaths occurred among Asian Indian, Vietnamese, Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, while White and Japanese groups saw minimal change.Researchers report that hypertensive and ischemic heart diseases drove much of the surge, with Asian Indians and Vietnamese experiencing annual increases in ischemic heart disease deaths above 6%, compared with modest growth among White individuals. In cerebrovascular disease, Other Pacific…
California is working to reduce unnecessary cesarean deliveries, especially among low-risk pregnancies, but disparities persist across hospitals and communities. According to the state’s Let’s Get Healthy California initiative, cesarean births—while sometimes medically necessary—can pose avoidable risks when performed on low-risk patients. These include surgical complications, longer recovery, and increased risks in future pregnancies.In 2022, the state’s low-risk cesarean birth rate stood at 25.2%, with a goal to lower it to 23.6% by 2034. While the rate has plateaued, deeper issues remain. Hospital-level variation ranges from 12% to 35%, suggesting that institutional culture and clinician attitudes may be driving decisions more…
False-negative breast cancer screenings—where cancer is present but not detected—are rising across the U.S., and Black women are disproportionately affected. A study analyzing over 38 million mammograms found that the rate of missed diagnoses in screening exams more than tripled between 2010 and 2022, climbing from 0.7 to 2.5 per 1,000 exams.Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that patient and facility characteristics play a significant role in these missed detections. Among diagnostic exams, Black women had a higher likelihood of receiving afalse-negative result compared to white women, with an odds ratio of 1.12. In contrast, Asian, Hawaiian, and Hispanic women…
Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods over the course of a lifetime can accelerate biological aging, especially among racial and ethnic minorities who are more likely to reside in these environments. A new study finds that cumulative exposure to socioeconomic hardship at the neighborhood level directly and indirectly speeds up aging through increased psychological distress.Using data from the REWARD Study, researchers analyzed long-term residential histories and blood-based epigenetic clocks—biomarkers that measure biological aging. They found that neighborhood disadvantage was linked to faster aging, with 10–13% of the effect mediated by psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and stress.Anxiety emerged as a particularly…
For many Black Americans, moderate to severe eczema isn’t just a skin condition—it’s a daily struggle that often goes unseen and untreated. Atopic dermatitis (AD), the chronic form of eczema, can cause relentless itching, burning, and sleep loss. But in Black communities, the burden is heavier and the care less accessible.Research shows Black patients are more likely to suffer from severe eczema but less likely to be properly diagnosed. That’s because AD often looks different on melanin-rich skin. When healthcare providers aren’t trained to recognize these variations, diagnosis is delayed and treatment is ineffective. “Some may experience itching that never…
A striking reversal of typical health disparity patterns has emerged in deaths from Clostridioides difficile infections, with white Americans dying at far higher rates than Black or Hispanic populations.White people accounted for 83.9% of C. difficile-related deaths between 1999 and 2023, while Black individuals made up just 8.1% and Hispanic people 5.5%, according to research presented at IDWeek 2025 in Atlanta. The analysis reviewed 216,311 deaths across 25 years of CDC data.Muhammad Sohaib Asghar, a resident physician at AdventHealth Sebring in Florida and the study’s presenting author, called the findings surprising. “When we talk about social determinants of health, we…
As type 2 diabetes cases surge among American children, new research shows where a child grows up matters as much as their diet. Researchers analyzed national survey data from over 174,000 children and highlighted how minority children in food-insecure homes or neighborhoods lacking green space face higher diabetes risk indicators. Urban environments marked by litter, poor walkability, and scarce access to fresh food, disproportionately affecting families of color, amplify this risk. Obesity remains the leading cause of type 2 diabetes, but the analysis reveals that vulnerability extends beyond individual choices. Neighborhood conditions, including the presence of sidewalks and parks, directly…
As GLP-1 medications gain popularity for managing diabetes and obesity, troubling racial disparities in access are emerging. A recent study found that White patients were more likely to fill their GLP-1 prescriptions than Black and Hispanic patients, despite similar medical needs.Out of nearly 10,000 prescriptions analyzed, 60.9% of White patients filled theirs, compared to 58.4% of Hispanic patients and just 55.3% of Black patients. These gaps persist even though Black and Hispanic patients often paid less out-of-pocket—$41.15 and $63.69 respectively, compared to $78.37 for White patients. Researchers suggest that affordability is relative, and what feels expensive to one patient may…