Social Determinants of Health

Race-neutral eGFR formula moves black patients up on transplant list

April 24, 2024 - According to an article released by the AP in early April 2024, transitions toward a race-neutral calculation for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) have been critical in improving transplant status for Black Kidney transplant candidates. An estimated 14,300 Black candidates have risen on the transplant list between January 2023 and March...

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Persistent physical activity is linked to better sleep patterns

by Veronica Salib

Persistently active individuals were 40% less likely to report difficulties falling asleep than those who were persistently inactive, according to a recent study in BMJ Open. Researchers evaluated...

Transplant teams are less likely to accept donor hearts for Black men

by Veronica Salib

A study published in JAMA on March 25, 2024, found racial and gender disparities in donor heart acceptances by transplant center teams, noting that Black men on the wait list were the least likely to...

Minimizing the Impact of Bias in Healthcare Algorithms

by Veronica Salib

Last week, researchers published a special communications article in JAMA Network Open outlining principles to address and minimize the impacts of racial and ethnic bias in healthcare algorithms. The...

ASRM Redefines Infertility, Adding Sexual Orientation, Relationships

by Veronica Salib

In an attempt to develop a more inclusive and comprehensive definition of infertility, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has modified the description to include people unable to...

Heat-Related CV Deaths to Greatly Impact Black and Elderly Communities

by Veronica Salib

Earlier this week, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that heat-related cardiovascular deaths are expected to increase drastically between 2036 and 2065. The press release cites an...

Increased Screen Time at 1 Year May Be Linked to Developmental Delay

by Veronica Salib

Earlier this month, an article published in JAMA Pediatrics linked screen time with an increased potential for developmental delays. Researchers set out to understand the dose–response...

The Path That Ends AIDS: UNAIDS Report Projects AIDS Could End by 2030

by Veronica Salib

A report published on July 13, 2023, by UNAIDS, a global effort to end acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), projects and outlines a plan to end AIDS by 2030. The 196-page report is divided into...

US Maternal Mortality Rate Increased Across All Groups from 1999 to 2019

by Veronica Salib

Across American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN); Asian, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander (AANHPI); Hispanic; Black; and White patients, the United States maternal mortality rates (MMRs)...

LGB Individuals Are More Likely to Have Mental Health Disorders

by Veronica Salib

Data from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health showed that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are more likely to have substance use and mental health disorders. The data,...

Nearly Half of LGBTQ Youth Considered Suicide in the Past Year

by Veronica Salib

The Trevor Project recently released key findings from its 2023 United States National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ young people, revealing that nearly half of LGBTQ youth in the US have...

Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Triple as Substance Abuse Rises Across US

by Hayden Schmidt

A CDC report published Tuesday found that drug overdose deaths increased significantly for several substances, including fentanyl which has emerged as the most common cause of overdose in the United...

How Does Race Impact Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening?

by Veronica Salib

An investigation published in JAMA Network Open explained how race and ethnicity might impact recommendations for breast cancer data. Based on the researchers’ analysis, they provided...

EPA Introduces National Standard for PFAS in Drinking Water

by Hayden Schmidt

Earlier this week, the Biden Administration announced the first-ever water standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). According to the regulation, the Environmental Protection Agency...

USPSTF Issues Recommendation for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy

by Veronica Salib

The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently issued a draft recommendation —open for public commentary until March 6, 2023 — for hypertensive disorders during...

Black Cancer Patients Experience Nearly Twice as Many Treatment Delays

by Veronica Salib

An article published in the American Cancer Society (ACS) Journals analyzing treatment delays in breast cancer found that black breast cancer patients experience nearly twice as many treatment delays...

How a Mediterranean Diet Can Impact Pregnancy Outcomes

by Veronica Salib

A Mediterranean diet — rich in vegetables, legumes, fruits, and nuts but low in saturated fats and processed meats — has been linked to favorable outcomes across many patient populations,...

American Diabetes Association Updates Standards of Care

by Veronica Salib

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States, associated with a significant clinical and financial burden. A publication in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology...

Planned Parenthood Closures Increased Severe Maternal Morbidity

by Veronica Salib

The recent political climate surrounding access to reproductive health and reproductive rights has left many, including patients, providers, and public health experts, anxious about the state of...

USPTSF Updates Guidelines on Skin Cancer Screenings

by Veronica Salib

The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently issued a draft recommendation statement with updated guidelines on skin cancer screenings. The draft document will be open to the...

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