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.

Drinking black coffee may help lower risk of death

While you're probably not pouring your morning cup for the long-term health benefits, coffee consumption has been linked to lower risk of mortality.

16 Jun 2025

‘We dissent’: NIH workers protest Trump policies that ‘harm the health of Americans’

Hundreds of workers at the National Institutes of Health on Monday openly protested the Trump administration’s cuts to the agency and consequences for human lives, writing in a sharply worded letter that its actions are causing "a dramatic reduction in life-saving research."

9 Jun 2025

Coastal living adds years to your life while inland waters may cut them short

Proximity to coastal waters is linked to longer life expectancy in the US, while living near large inland water bodies often reduces it, except in rural settings, where the effect is positive. Environmental quality, income, and context drive these differences.

29 May 2025

Philanthropic support helps drive progress across WHO's key health priorities and services

Philanthropic support plays a vital role in enabling countries to build stronger health systems and advance towards health equity.

28 May 2025

Healthcare utilization among the elderly remained stable in Japan despite pandemic challenges

Public healthcare emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can drastically disrupt healthcare systems with long-term repercussions.

27 May 2025

Study reveals continuing and worrying trend in excess US deaths

There were over 1.5 million "missing Americans" in 2022 and 2023, deaths that would have been averted if US mortality rates matched those of peer countries.

23 May 2025

Depression and loneliness predict future chronic pain in older adults

Researchers tracked more than 7,000 older adults in England and found that loneliness and depression increased years before the onset of chronic pain, and remained elevated long after pain began. Social isolation also rose with age, but differences between those with and without pain were minimal.

21 May 2025

3 things to watch on mental health in Trump’s early budget proposals

Since President Donald Trump released his 2026 budget blueprint in early May, calling for $163 billion in federal spending cuts, much of the attention has focused on his slashing of foreign aid and boosting of border security.

21 May 2025

BMI changes in adolescence mediate the effect of air pollution on metabolic health

Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) during adolescence play an important role in the association between air pollution exposure and insulin resistance, according to a new study led by investigators from the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

20 May 2025

Obesity in teens alters brain regions tied to memory and emotion

Adolescents with abdominal obesity have larger brain regions linked to memory and emotional control, potentially due to inflammation, according to a large MRI-based study. These brain changes, coupled with socioeconomic disadvantage, may impair cognitive and emotional development during adolescence.

10 May 2025

Study reveals regional risk factors driving heart disease in Asia and Oceania

A new study puts the spotlight on the rising burden of ischemic heart disease across Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania, and calls for localized, equity-focused interventions in these regions.

8 May 2025

Understanding the psychological toll of asthma or allergies

People who have struggled with asthma or allergies for years understand the psychological toll of these conditions.

7 May 2025

Canadian study links ultra processed foods to poor health outcomes

A landmark study exploring Canadians' consumption of chips, frozen pizzas, breakfast cereals and other ultra-processed foods typically loaded with fat, sugar and additives has confirmed these foods are directly and significantly linked to poor health outcomes.

7 May 2025

HIV testing and outreach falter as Trump funding cuts sweep the South

Storm clouds hung low above a community center in Jackson, where pastor Andre Devine invited people inside for lunch. Hoagies with smoked turkey and ham drew the crowd, but several people lingered for free preventive health care: tests for HIV and other diseases, flu shots, and blood pressure and glucose monitoring.

6 May 2025

The Surgeon-Scientist Pioneering Regenerative Engineering

In this interview, Sir Prof. Cato T. Laurencin, the 2025 Coulter Lecturer, discusses how he is addressing today’s medical challenges using the technology of the future.

From Pittcon 5 May 2025

COVID-19 restrictions linked to better birth timing but worse mental health

A global review reveals that while lockdowns helped reduce early births in some regions, they also worsened maternal mental health, highlighting the need for more tailored support during future health crises.

1 May 2025

CommunityRx program reduces ER visits for food insecure children

In a new clinical study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine found that a low-intensity program that "prescribes" community resources to every parent or other primary caregiver of a hospitalized child reduced the use of acute care for children of food-insecure families in the following year, saving potentially thousands of dollars in healthcare expenditures while demanding little more than minutes of staff time per family.

28 Apr 2025

Study pinpoints vast 'air quality deserts' across nearly 60% of US counties

Over half of U.S. counties lack air quality monitoring stations, exposing 50.7 million people, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas, to invisible pollution risks. The study links monitoring gaps to systemic inequities and urges equitable infrastructure expansion.

24 Apr 2025

Simple intervention during ER visits lowers blood pressure long term

A simple consultation during unrelated visits to the emergency room can help patients with high blood pressure - "the silent killer" - manage the condition, even before they experience symptoms, according to new research from the University of Illinois Chicago.

24 Apr 2025

AGA announces $2.4 million in research funding for 74 recipients

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is proud to announce the selection of 74 recipients to receive $2.4 million in research funding through the annual AGA Research Foundation Awards Program.

22 Apr 2025