A new study highlights a sharp rise in deaths from hypertensive kidney disease across the United States, laying bare deep disparities for Black and Hispanic communities. Since 1999, the age-adjusted death rate from hypertensive kidney disease has increased by 48 percent, with men, residents of Southern states, and ethnic minorities bearing the brunt of this trend.High blood pressure should not be underestimated as it quietly leads to life-threatening kidney problems, especially in communities of color. “High blood pressure isn’t just about strokes or heart attacks—it’s also a major cause of kidney disease and death, especially in Black and Hispanic communities,”…
Author: Disparity Matters
A decade-long surge in self-reported cognitive disability is disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic minority groups, according to a new national study. While younger adults overall saw a sharp rise in difficulty with memory, concentration, and decision-making, the impact has been especially severe for American Indian, Black, and Hispanic communities.American Indian and Alaska Native adults reported the highest prevalence, climbing from 7.5% to 11.2%. Hispanic adults approached 10% by 2023, and Black adults also reported above-average rates. In contrast, Asian adults maintained the lowest and most stable levels, under 5%.“These patterns underscore the powerful role of social determinants in shaping cognitive…
Chronic hepatitis B continues to devastate Asian American communities, often undetected until irreversible damage occurs. In their report for the San Francisco Public Press, Zhe Wu and Mel Baker reveal how this “silent killer” disproportionately affects Asian Americans, who make up just 7% of the U.S. population but account for more than half of all chronic hepatitis B cases. The virus is often contracted at birth and remains asymptomatic for decades. “I’m not the type to go see a doctor for no reason,” said Tony Lau, a San Francisco contractor who discovered his infection only after a routine check-up. Without…
A 14-year study of major amputations in Pennsylvania reveals troubling disparities in limb loss, especially among Black men in distressed urban communities. Despite advances in vascular surgery and diabetes care, the number of amputations rose modestly—from 2.1 to 2.5 per 10,000 residents over age 25—between 2010 and 2023.The data show that Black patients accounted for 26% of major amputations, though they make up only 12% of the state’s population. Seven of the ten zip codes with the highest amputation rates had populations over 70% Black. In Philadelphia’s 19140 zip code, the average age at amputation was just 60.7 years.“Men of…
Firearm violence remains a deadly threat for children and adolescents in the United States, and new research reveals a stark racial divide in these tragedies. Nearly one-quarter of all pediatric firearm-related homicides occur inside homes, with young children under age 13 facing the gravest risk. Black children account for the majority of overall deaths, representing 67.9% of victims, while also making up 55.8% of those killed in their homes. Hispanic and White populations also suffer these tragedies, but at lower rates. The study finds these fatal events seldom make headlines. “Less attention is paid to firearm-related homicide occurring in children’s…
New research reveals that Black and Hispanic workers in California face sharply elevated risks of workplace injury compared to their White peers. Over a fifteen-year period, lost-time injury rates were found to be 74 percent higher for Black workers and 90 percent higher for Hispanic workers compared to White workers, while Asian and Pacific Islander workers experienced rates 37 percent lower. “Black and Hispanic workers systematically face worse working conditions and riskier environments,” report the study’s authors.Much of this disparity arises from occupational concentration—minority workers are overrepresented in dangerous jobs. For men, adjusting for the types of jobs held explained…
When Congress passed the Dawes Act in 1887, the promise was independence and prosperity for Native Americans through private land ownership. Instead, the policy stripped away two-thirds of tribal lands, forced assimilation, and brought a devastating rise in death rates. New Stanford research shows mortality among Native Americans surged by roughly 20% after allotment began. By the mid-1930s, white Americans lived to an average age of 65, while Native Americans’ life expectancy was just 52. Child mortality proved especially stark. In 1900, Native mothers were already more likely to lose a child than white mothers by 12 percentage points. Allotment…
A sweeping study of over six million births in California reveals alarming racial and ethnic disparities in maternal cardiovascular health. Black and American Indian/Alaska Native mothers face the highest risks of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and the lowest rates of ideal heart health before and during childbirth.Between 2007 and 2019, the prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy—including chronic hypertension and preeclampsia—increased across all racial and ethnic groups. Yet Black mothers consistently had the highest rates, with a 60% greater risk of these conditions compared to White mothers. Their risk of chronic hypertension was more than double.American Indian/Alaska Native mothers followed…
Heart transplantation is supposed to offer a new lease on life after end-stage heart failure, but new data show that Black recipients are not sharing equally in those long-term gains. Drawing on the national Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, researchers analyzed 15,873 adults who received a new heart between 2017 and 2022, comparing outcomes for Black, non-Hispanic White, and other racial groups.Black patients made up nearly a quarter of transplant recipients and were more likely to be women, publicly insured, and less likely to have a college education than non-Black peers. They also arrived at transplant sicker, with higher use…
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