Health Disparities

Home HPV Self-Sampling Kits Show Promise for Closing Cervical Screening Gap in Disabled Women

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A new study from the University of Sheffield suggests that at-home human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling kits could help address persistent gaps in cervical cancer screening among physically disabled women, a population that faces disproportionate barriers to traditional in-person screenings. The National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded study, published in the Journal of Medical Screening, … Read more

Large Study Shows Genetic Risk Results Can Be Returned to Thousands of Patients—With Caveats

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A new study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics offers a look at how genetic risk information can be returned to patients at scale—and where health systems still fall short. The research, conducted through the eMERGE network, a multi-site genomic medicine initiative, tracked the return of genome-informed risk assessments to nearly 24,000 adults … Read more

Study reveals racial differences in early Alzheimer’s brain changes

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A team of researchers at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has identified important differences in how early Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes appear across racial and ethnic groups, underscoring the need for more inclusive approaches to studying and diagnosing the disease. … Read more

Low Activity & Kidney Health: Global Trends

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Low physical activity fuels a⁢ global surge in‍ chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases and deaths, according to a new analysis.⁢ The study reveals alarming trends: women ⁤and those in low-income regions are disproportionately affected, and the Americas have seen the most dramatic increases. In 2021 alone, inactivity contributed to over 40,900 deaths from CKD worldwide. … Read more

Pathways Symposium explores lack of access to cancer screening and care

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Better access, better outcomes A panel of patients and caregivers offered personal stories and insights illustrating the important ties between access and outcomes. Lori Durham, of Bremerton, Washington, diagnosed and treated for both breast and ovarian cancers, said when she discovered she had cancer, she also learned she didn’t have insurance — at least not … Read more

Association of individual and community-level socioeconomic status and education with medication use: a multilevel analysis in the PERSIAN cohort | BMC Public Health

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Study design and participants This cross-sectional study utilized baseline data from the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN), a cohort designed to investigate the burden and risk factors of non-communicable diseases in Iran. The cohort includes participants aged 35 to 70 years from 18 geographically distinct sites, selected to represent diverse ethnic, environmental, and … Read more

Food insecurity increases risk of poor heart health in young adults

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The study’s authors then compared survey responses with recorded CVD events over the next two decades. The mean follow-up period was 18.8 years. Overall, food insecurity was identified in 15% of study participants. These individuals were more likely to be Black and report lower educational attainment. CVD events—fatal or nonfatal coronary heart disease, heart failure, … Read more

Study highlights the need for more diversity in vaginal microbiome research

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A new study highlights the urgent need for global equity in vaginal microbiome research, challenging outdated perspectives and pushing for better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for female health worldwide. Study: Diversity in women and their vaginal microbiota. Image Credit: Tatiana Shepeleva/Shutterstock.com A recent study published in Trends in Microbiology discussed the diversity in females and their vaginal … Read more

Living in disadvantaged areas reduces ALS survival time by over 30%

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Living in a disadvantaged community may decrease the length of time a person can survive with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, by over 30%, a Michigan Medicine-led study suggests. ALS is a progressive, incurable condition that causes muscle wasting and loss of muscle control. While most people survive with ALS around two to four years, … Read more

Social and health disparities drive brain aging in Latin America

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Research reveals Brazil’s unique risk factors, with education as the top predictor of cognitive decline, unlike other Latin American nations where mental health plays a larger role. Study: Social and health disparities associated with healthy brain ageing in Brazil and in other Latin American countries. Image Credit: Motortion Films/Shutterstock.com In a recent study published in The Lancet … Read more