Black women in the United States are dying during pregnancy and childbirth at alarming rates—two to four times higher than White, Hispanic, or Asian women. A new analysis from the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the McKinsey Health Institute reports that maternal mortality among Black women reached 50 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, and could nearly double by 2040 if current trends persist.Beyond mortality, Black women face disproportionate rates of serious conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and postpartum depression. These health challenges may not always be fatal, but they take a heavy toll. The report estimates…
Author: Disparity Matters
A recent meta-analysis has revealed troubling disparities in the use of prostate MRI among racial minority groups, with Black and Hispanic men receiving significantly less diagnostic imaging than their white counterparts. The study, published in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, analyzed data from over 94,000 patients and found that Caucasian men were three times more likely to undergo prostate MRI than Black men.The gap was even wider for other groups. Only 19% of Black men received prostate MRI, compared to 66% of white patients. Hispanic men saw even lower rates at just 7%, and Asian men at 4%. These disparities…
A new study reveals that social determinants of health (SDOH)—such as housing instability, isolation, and economic hardship—are rarely documented in the medical records of cancer patients, despite their known impact on outcomes. Using data from over 50,000 adults with cancer, researchers found that less than 2% had any SDOH-related Z codes in their claims, even though those with Z codes had significantly higher rates of comorbidities and metastatic disease.Z codes are diagnostic codes meant to capture individual-level social challenges. Yet 54% of oncologists surveyed had never heard of them. Only 19% had used them, and many cited lack of reimbursement…
Parkinson’s disease affects people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, yet clinical trials and research continue to exclude many of them. According to 2023 NIH data, only 4% of Parkinson’s trial participants identified as Black, 3% as Asian, and 4% as Hispanic or Latinx—numbers far below their representation in the U.S. population. This lack of inclusion has real consequences for diagnosis, treatment, and access to care.Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, missing chances for early intervention. Latinx patients are less likely to see specialists trained in movement disorders. These disparities are not biological—they stem from…
A new nationwide study reveals that communities historically marked as “hazardous” on 1930s redlining maps are still suffering the consequences—this time in the form of delayed emergency medical services. These delays can be deadly, especially for patients experiencing trauma, stroke, cardiac arrest, or septic shock. Researchers found that residents in Grade D neighborhoods are 1.5 times more likely to lack rapid EMS access compared to those in Grade A areas. These same neighborhoods have fewer non-Hispanic white residents and more non-Hispanic Black residents, along with lower median incomes and higher population density. “Our findings reveal a novel and significant disparity,”…
A national analysis of 2011–2016 NHANES data finds wide differences in metabolic syndrome (MetS) across Asian American subpopulations, challenging one-size-fits-all assumptions. MetS—a cluster of conditions that heighten risks for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes—varied significantly by ethnicity and sex even within the same body mass index (BMI) ranges. Among women with BMI below 23, Filipinas had a 31.70% MetS prevalence compared with 14.45% among Chinese women. Among men with BMI 23–27.4, Asian Indian men showed 50.80% prevalence versus 22.66% in Vietnamese men.Gender patterns were notable. Across groups with BMI under 27.5, women generally had higher MetS prevalence than men;…
A recent study reveals that racial disparities in dental care affordability are contributing to serious oral health inequities in the United States. Among non-Hispanic Black adults, 21.03% reported being unable to afford needed dental care—nearly triple the rate of those at higher income levels. Mexican American and other Hispanic adults followed closely at 20.12%, underscoring the disproportionate burden faced by communities of color.These affordability barriers translate into worse health outcomes. Adults who couldn’t afford care were more than three times as likely to have untreated tooth decay and over four times more likely to suffer root caries. They also had…
A new national study reveals that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionately affects non-Hispanic Black adults in the United States. Using data from 2017 to 2021, researchers found that Black adults had more than twice the odds of having SLE compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Hispanic adults also showed elevated odds, though the difference was less pronounced.The study examined how social determinants of health (SDOH)—including income, insurance, psychological distress, and neighborhood conditions—correlate with SLE prevalence. Adults with Medicaid had significantly higher odds of SLE than those with private insurance. Those experiencing psychological distress or living in the Northeast also faced increased risk.Importantly,…
Latino men in the United States remain disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, with complex social and cultural factors driving higher risk. According to a new clinical trial, Latino men are more than four times as likely to be diagnosed with HIV compared to their White counterparts, and they accounted for nearly one-third of new HIV cases in 2022.Researchers tested HoMBRES de Familia, a culturally tailored program aimed at reducing the intertwined challenges of substance abuse, intimate partner violence, and HIV/AIDS—known as the SAVA syndemic. Conducted among 122 Latino fathers in Miami-Dade County, the study found the intervention significantly improved HIV knowledge…
Improving access to digital tools like broadband internet and smartphones could significantly reduce healthcare disparities for African Americans, according to researchers at UC Santa Barbara. Sharon Tettegah and Ebenezer Larnyo of the Center for Black Studies Research say that health technology—such as telehealth and health-related social media—can enhance care quality and access while reducing inequities. Larnyo, lead author of a study published in Frontiers in Public Health, emphasized that “higher socioeconomic status individuals are more likely to have technology access, and when they do have access, they experience fewer healthcare disparities.” The study analyzed data from 815 African Americans and…