Exposed racism’s historic and ongoing impact on Black health through research, writing, and advocacy.
Author: Disparity Matters
Addressed racial health disparities by researching food insecurity, diabetes, and policy interventions for equity.
Researched medical mistrust, showing racially concordant physicians boost preventive care among Black men.
Black Americans live with a stark and persistent burden of cardiovascular disease that continues to exact a heavy toll on families and neighborhoods. The American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update reports that nearly 60% of Black adults aged 20 and older have some form of cardiovascular disease, compared with about 49% of all U.S. adults. Stroke prevalence is highest among Black women and men, and Black adults account for more than half of heart failure hospitalizations among U.S. adults under 50. High blood pressure stands out as a crisis, with 58.4% of Black women and 57.5%…
New research suggests that both race and geographic location significantly influence life expectancy in the United States. The study, published in Real Health, reveals that Black Americans and residents of certain regions face shorter lifespans compared to their White counterparts and those living in more affluent areas.The research highlights that Black Americans have a life expectancy that is, on average, three years shorter than White Americans. This disparity is even more pronounced in specific regions, such as the Deep South and parts of the Midwest, where socioeconomic factors and access to healthcare play critical roles. The study underscores that these…
A recent study highlights significant disparities in outcomes for in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) among different racial and ethnic groups. Black and Hispanic patients experience higher mortality rates and lower rates of life-saving interventions compared to White patients. The study, which analyzed data from 2016 to 2020, underscores the urgent need for equitable healthcare practices. Researchers found that Black men had the highest adjusted mortality odds among those with ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) arrests, followed by Hispanic women and Black women. Additionally, Black patients had significantly reduced odds of receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared…
A recent study led by Michigan Medicine reveals that living in disadvantaged communities may significantly shorten survival times for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research, which analyzed data from over 1,000 ALS patients between 2012 and mid-2024, found that those from the most disadvantaged neighborhoods had survival times up to 37% shorter compared to those from more resourced areas.The study highlights the impact of social determinants of health on ALS outcomes. Factors such as income, education, employment, and housing play a crucial role in determining the survival rates of ALS patients. Senior author Stephen Goutman, M.D., M.S., emphasized…
Investigates how poor sleep, influenced by factors like noise, light pollution, socioeconomic stressors, overly affects minority populations
Adhering to a Mediterranean diet may significantly enhance brain health among Latino adults, according to a recent study published in Stroke. This diet, rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish, has been linked to better preservation of white matter integrity in the brain, which is crucial for maintaining cognitive functions.The study, led by Dr. Gabriela Trifan, involved 2,774 participants from the Study of Latinos–Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging–MRI Ancillary Study. Participants reported their dietary habits, which were then scored based on adherence to the Mediterranean diet. After a decade of follow-up, brain scans revealed that those who closely followed…
The unwinding of continuous Medicaid provisions has left thousands of pediatric patients uninsured, revealing significant health disparities among minority communities. According to a recent study, 8.7% of pediatric patients at community-based health organizations lost their insurance coverage during this period. This disenrollment disproportionately affected older children, females, and those with chronic medical conditions.The study highlights that American Indian or Alaska Native patients experienced higher disenrollment rates compared to their White counterparts. This disparity underscores the ongoing challenges faced by minority communities in accessing consistent healthcare. Medicaid, which covers at least 40% of children, saw a decline of over 5.5 million…