Non-Hispanic Black individuals in four U.S. states experienced a 38% increase in the rate of opioid overdose deaths from 2018 to 2019, while the rates for other race and ethnicity groups held steady or decreased, according to a new study…
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Deep disparities persist in who gets exposed to secondhand smoke
Harmful secondhand tobacco smoke remains more widespread than most people think, experts say, and exposure is particularly high for children, Black adults and people living below the poverty line. One of the biggest hurdles is smokers often underestimate the levels…
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Disparities persisted as orthopaedic visits shifted to telemedicine
Like other medical specialties at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, orthopedic surgery rapidly pivoted from in-person visits to remote appointments via telemedicine. Analysis of that initial experience finds that some groups of patients faced persistent or worsening disparities as…
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Cancer study highlights racial disparities for patients facing dual diagnoses
The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) published new findings in the Annals of Oncology, showing heightened mortality and racial disparities for patients with cancer diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. After reviewing detailed information from almost 5,000 patients with active or past…
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Losing Obamacare protections during pandemic could increase health disparities
If Affordable Care Act protections for pre-existing condition coverage are no longer available, the coronavirus pandemic would leave many Americans—a disproportionate number of whom are people of color—without health insurance, a new Oregon Health & Science University study indicates. Published…
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Waitlist policies may contribute to racial disparities in kidney transplant access
Despite efforts to address them, racial disparities in access to kidney transplantation persist in the United States. New research published in an upcoming issue of JASN indicates that policy changes surrounding patients’ eligibility to be put on kidney transplant waitlists…
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Social and structural factors influence racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality
COVID-19 mortality racial disparities in the U.S. are associated with social factors like income, education and internet access, according to a Rutgers study. The study, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, highlights the need for public…
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Scientists unravel mystery of sex disparities in COVID-19 outcomes
A little more than a year ago, as the first reports rolled in about the outbreak of a novel new coronavirus in China, it quickly became clear that older individuals and males were most at risk of lethal outcomes. Yale…
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Racial, socioeconomic disparities in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer treatment
A new study shows that Black individuals with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer are less likely to receive chemotherapy for their disease compared to white and other racial groups. Led by researchers at Boston Medical Center, the results indicate that…
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Disparities seen in outcomes for young adults with CRC
(HealthDay)—Worse outcomes are seen for young adult (YA) patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) living in the lowest income and education areas, according to a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, held from Jan….
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