Health Disparities News and Research

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Health disparities (also called healthcare inequality in some countries) refer to gaps in the quality of health and health care across racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and socioeconomic groups.

Discrimination may cause black and Hispanic patients to wait longer for primary care appointment

Discrimination may cause black and Hispanic patients to wait longer for a scheduled primary care appointment, according to a new Tulane University study published in JAMA Network Open.

30 Jan 2020

Medicaid expansion could lessen the burden of colon cancers, save Black male lives

Expanding Medicaid in North Carolina could sharply lessen the burden of colon cancers in the state and save the lives of thousands of Black men as well as improving access to care for men of all races, researchers report in the 27 January issue of PLOS ONE.

29 Jan 2020

Highly active adults engage in a greater variety of activities to meet exercise guidelines

Highly active adults engage in a greater variety of physical activities than do less active adults, finds a new study led by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing.

29 Jan 2020

WVU program works towards preventing blindness in diabetic patients

When people think about the management of diabetes, A1C (hemoglobin) tests and foot exams usually come to mind. Often overlooked is the recommended retinal eye exam. This eye exam is crucial because many West Virginians with diabetes are at risk for blindness caused by diabetic retinopathy.

27 Jan 2020

Experts highlight emerging trends in spina bifida care

In this collection of articles in the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine experts highlight the emerging trends in spina bifida care in response to challenges faced by spina bifida patients and their physicians due to demographic shifts in age and ethnicity and other societal factors.

16 Jan 2020

UT Southwestern researchers explain racial disparities in heart failure risk

Researchers at UT Southwestern have uncovered evidence that the higher prevalence of "malignant" enlargement of the heart among blacks contributes to the higher incidence of heart failure in this population.

14 Jan 2020

Researchers identify new pathway as biological target for colon cancer

Researchers have found a way to help make chemotherapy more effective in treating colon cancer. They identified a new pathway (RICTOR/mTORC2) as a biological target for the disease.

13 Jan 2020

Study examines within-hospital racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity rates

Mount Sinai researchers find black and Latina mothers experience higher rates of severe maternal morbidity as compared with white mothers within the same hospital, with insurance status not responsible for these disparities.

9 Jan 2020

Adequate health insurance could reduce racial outcome disparities in breast cancer

Lack of insurance coverage is a major cause of delayed breast cancer screening and treatment among minority women, which could lead to a decrease in a patient's chance of survival.

9 Jan 2020

New Yorkers are being treated sooner after HIV infection, study shows

The most effective way to reduce HIV-related deaths and prevent onward transmission is to diagnose and treat all persons as soon as possible after HIV infection. According to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, New Yorkers living with HIV are being treated sooner after infection.

7 Jan 2020

Worksite intervention can help address lung cancer disparity in rural Kentucky

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among all Kentuckians. Male Kentuckians have higher rates than females, with a disproportionate number residing in rural and medically underserved parts of the state.

20 Dec 2019

Artistic interest lengthens the lifespan

Go ahead, plan those trips to the museum or a concert, to feed your longing for beauty and art. Not only will it give you a few hours of delight, it could contribute to a longer life. This is the striking conclusion reached by a study on older adults, published in December 2019 in the British Medical Journal.

19 Dec 2019

First National LGBTQ Health Summit addresses LGBTQ health issues

The first National Nursing LGBTQ Health Summit, conceived by the Nursing LGBTQ Summit Advisory Board, was hosted at Columbia University School of Nursing on November 21 and 22.

19 Dec 2019

Congressional taskforce report highlights alarming trends in Black youth suicide rates

The historic gap in suicide-related rates between Black and White youth is narrowing, according to a report released today by a Congressional taskforce.

18 Dec 2019

New metrics needed to evaluate public health response to HIV in the U.S.

A new peer-reviewed commentary published in the January issue of the American Journal of Public Health argues for new metrics to evaluate the public health response to HIV in the United States.

17 Dec 2019

Alterations in environmental factors may contribute to endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy in the U.S. and the fourth most common cancer among women.

16 Dec 2019

ACMG recommends evaluations of breast cancer patients before genetic testing

According to a statement on behalf of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) published Dec. 13 in the organization's official journal, Genetics in Medicine, there is insufficient evidence to recommend universal genetic testing for BRCA1/2 alone or in combination with multi-gene panels for all breast cancer patients.

13 Dec 2019

IBM announces collaborations, launches AI Imaging Marketplace and Clinical Review 3.0 at RSNA

IBM Watson Health today published its 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals annual study identifying top U.S. hospitals for inpatient cardiovascular services based on a balanced national scorecard of hospital performance metrics.

From IBM Watson 13 Dec 2019

Experts publish new book with recommendations to reduce Latino cancer

As U.S. Latinos face a staggering 142% projected rise in cancer cases by 2030, UT Health San Antonio leaders gathered international cancer experts to publish a new book with innovative research and recommendations to reduce Latino cancer.

9 Dec 2019

Experts at AGS-NIA U13 conference provide insights on bone and soft-tissue disorders

Experts at a prestigious medical conference hosted by the American Geriatrics Society and funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging hope their work--reported this week in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society--can help yield hard evidence to address the range of "soft tissue" and bone disorders that contribute to falls, fractures, and muscle loss as we age.

4 Dec 2019