Health Disparities

Health disparities have the largest impact on the access, quality of care and outcomes overall in many patient populations defined by factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, education level, income, disability, geographic location. Many other factors also play a role, including if a patient is in a rural of urban location, distances to hospitals, pharmacies and clinics. These factors of inequitable access or healthcare are often directly related to the historical and ongoing unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources. This page includes content defining health disparities and efforts to address them.

High cost of cardiac amyloidosis drugs may limit access for low-income patients
"We cannot accept a system where only those with means can benefit from life-changing drugs. We are a wealthy nation that spends trillions on healthcare. We must ensure that income and wealth do not determine access," explained JACC Editor-in-Chief Harlan M. Krumholz, MD.
Researchers use wearable fitness trackers to monitor sleep, CVD risk
A new two-year study is focused on the potential of using commercially available fitness trackers to identify patients who may face an increased risk of CVD.
AHA expands efforts to spread the word about CKM syndrome
This is a rapidly growing area of interest in cardiology as research continues to find close links between heart disease and kidney disease.
How anti-DEI healthcare policies are impacting patient care
All over the United States, countless research projects designed to improve outcomes have lost funding or been shut down. Even screening efforts targeting patients in impoverished communities have been impacted by these policies.
AMA deeply concerned about Trump policies and cuts to healthcare spending
American Medical Association President Bruce Scott, MD, has expressed major concerns about significant healthcare spending cuts proposed by the Trump administration. These include reductions to Medicaid, deep cuts to NIH funding, staffing reductions, and policy changes at key federal agencies.

Disparities based on age, race persist in PET use for lung cancer patients

Demographic differences in the use of PET imaging among Medicare beneficiaries with non-small cell lung cancer have persisted since the modality’s approval by Medicare in 1998, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in Radiology.

Health Disparities

High cost of cardiac amyloidosis drugs may limit access for low-income patients

Researchers use wearable fitness trackers to monitor sleep, CVD risk

AHA expands efforts to spread the word about CKM syndrome

How anti-DEI healthcare policies are impacting patient care

AMA deeply concerned about Trump policies and cuts to healthcare spending