February 24, 2021
How Asthma and COVID-19 Disproportionately Affect Minorities
Asthma disproportionately affects minority populations. Given the similar disparity experienced by minorities diagnosed with COVID-19, questions regarding factors that affect these disparities and the relationship between asthma and COVID-19 have been raised. This study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, sought to answer these questions. Results from an anonymous questionnaire distributed...
Polynesian Ancestry May Increase Cardiometabolic Risk
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Polynesian ancestry in Native Hawaiians seems to be associated with an increased risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart failure, according to a study published online Feb. 11 in PLOS Genetics. Hanxiao Sun, from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and colleagues used genome-wide single-nucleotide...
Improving Treatment Equity for Children With Asthma
Non-white children, especially Black and Hispanic children, are disproportionately affected by asthma prevalence and adverse asthma outcomes. One way that pediatric asthma is managed is through care by school nurses. However, children that are most affected by asthma disparities are more likely to attend schools with a higher demand for nursing care and fewer resources...
Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Tied to Lasting Social Consequences
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PoMS) is associated with less educational achievement, lower earnings, and greater use of disability benefits throughout the working-age life span, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in JAMA Neurology. Kyla A. McKay, Ph.D., from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and colleagues examined the...
Addressing the Lack of Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials
The current problem of inadequate diversity in research participation among racial/ethnic minorities has led to health disparities. This underrepresentation arises from factors such as lack of awareness of clinical trials by patients and physicians, inadequate health insurance, and limited opportunities. The need for improvement has led the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health...