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.

Pope welcomes cardiologists to Vatican City
Pope Leo XIV told interventional cardiologists their work “stands at the crossroads of science, compassion and ethical responsibility.” When they treat patients, he added, they are treating the heart “both physically and metaphorically, bringing relief to those who suffer.”
Cardiologists work to eliminate ‘cardiology deserts’ found in many rural communities
The Association of Black Cardiologists hopes to improve widespread disparities in care through the use of patient education, free diagnostic heart screenings and other proven methods.
P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib
Research that followed patients for more than 13 years suggests increases in ECG PR interval, P‐wave duration and PTFV1 are associated with increased AFib risk in this cohort.
How clinicians can combat health disparities in cardio-oncology
Researchers, for example, could improve disparities by performing their tests on more diverse groups of patients. Daniel Addison, MD, shared his perspective with Cardiovascular Business.
Pushback against Trump's $100K visa fee continues with new lawsuit
As a new lawsuit targets the unpopular policy, the American College of Cardiology and other medical societies worry that $100,000 fees will make the ongoing physician shortage much worse.

Leslee Shaw, PhD, MSCCT, FACC, MASNC, FAHA, director of the Blavatnik Family Women's Health Research Institute, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a former president of both SCCT and ASNC. She explains the sex differences in cardiovascular imaging presentations in women versus men.

VIDEO: CT can play a role in identifying women's differences in cardiovascular presentations

Leslee Shaw, PhD, director of the Blavatnik Family Women's Health Research Institute, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a former president of both SCCT and ASNC, explains the sex differences in cardiovascular imaging presentations in women versus men.

Patients digging deeper into household budgets for imaging exams that aren’t mammography

Why are patients paying far less out of their pockets for mammography now than two decades ago—while shelling out a lot more for other common imaging exams?

Disparities in breast cancer detection and care persist, despite a drop in mortality, new ACS report reveals

While Black women have lower incidence of breast cancer diagnosis, their mortality rates are 40% higher than those observed in white women.

VIDEO: Gender differences in women with cardiovascular disease and implications for imagers

Erin D. Michos, MD, co-editor in chief of the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, discusses gender differences in heart disease presentations.

LaPrincess Brewer, M.D., a Mayo Clinic preventive cardiologist and principal investigator of the study, explains a heart model.

An immediate impact: Smartphone app boosts health of Black patients in just 10 weeks

A new trial for participants from 16 church groups in Minnesota showed that app users significantly improved their heart health scores after just 10 weeks.

Cardiologists applaud new research on social/structural determinants of health among heart patients

The American Heart Association and Association of Black Cardiologists announced the winners of a six-month data challenge, describing health equity as "one of the most pressing areas in healthcare.”

United Health Foundation commits $100M to workforce diversity

The move is the largest single philanthropic commitment ever by the foundation, and the funding will primarily focus on helping build a racially and ethnically diverse health workforce.

Intermountain Healthcare taps diversity leader to be new chief equity officer

Chief equity officer and chief health equity officer are rising roles across the healthcare space.

Health Disparities

Pope welcomes cardiologists to Vatican City

Cardiologists work to eliminate ‘cardiology deserts’ found in many rural communities

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib

How clinicians can combat health disparities in cardio-oncology

Pushback against Trump's $100K visa fee continues with new lawsuit