OBJECTIVE: Providing personal demographic information is routine practice in the United States, and yet, little is known about the impacts of this process. This study aims to examine the experiences and perspectives of Multiracial/ethnic adults in the United States when disclosing racial/ethnic identity.
METHODS: Seventeen semistructured interviews were conducted with adults identifying as Multiracial/ethnic. The Multiracial/ethnic identities of participants included Black or African American and White; Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Hispanic or Latino; Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino; Black or African American and AI/AN; AI/AN and White and Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and White. Multiple participants reported identifying with multiple ethnic groups for any single broad category. Three identified as sexual minorities. Nine were Millennials; six were Gen X; one was Gen Z; one was Baby Boomer. Qualitative data were analyzed using staged hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Disclosure of racial and ethnic identities presents a unique stressor for Multiracial/ethnic populations due to methods used to obtain data, perceived mismatch of identity and phenotype and exposure to prejudice. Social norms, constructs and movements impact the categories that a Multiracial/ethnic person indicates to external parties.
CONCLUSIONS: The stress and negative feelings that Multiracial/ethnic adults face when identifying their race/ethnicity underscore the broader implications of standard demographic questions on feelings of inclusivity and visibility within a population.
UNASSIGNED: Gathering data on individuals\' racial and ethnic backgrounds is a standard practice, and yet, it can pose challenges for those who identify with multiple groups or do not see their identities reflected in the options provided. Such individuals may feel excluded or experience unfair treatment when disclosing their identity, leading to significant stress. As the frequency of this data collection increases, it is essential that the questions are posed empathetically and equitably, with a strong commitment to enhancing inclusivity throughout the process.

UNASSIGNED: Increasing evidence suggests that the inclusion of self-identified race in clinical decision algorithms may perpetuate longstanding inequities. Until recently, most pulmonary function tests utilized separate reference equations that are race/ethnicity based.
UNASSIGNED: We assess the magnitude and scope of the available literature on the negative impact of race-based pulmonary function prediction equations on relevant outcomes in African Americans with COPD.
UNASSIGNED: We performed a scoping review utilizing an English language search on PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science in September 2022 and updated it in December 2023. We searched for publications regarding the effect of race-specific vs race-neutral, race-free, or race-reversed lung function testing algorithms on the diagnosis of COPD and COPD-related physiologic and functional measures. Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines were utilized for this scoping review. Eligibility criteria: The search was restricted to adults with COPD. We excluded publications on other lung disorders, non-English language publications, or studies that did not include African Americans. The search identified publications. Ultimately, six peer-reviewed publications and four conference abstracts were selected for this review.
UNASSIGNED: Removal of race from lung function prediction equations often had opposite effects in African Americans and Whites, specifically regarding the severity of lung function impairment. Symptoms and objective findings were better aligned when race-specific reference values were not used. Race-neutral prediction algorithms uniformly resulted in reclassifying severity in the African Americans studied.
UNASSIGNED: The limited literature does not support the use of race-based lung function prediction equations. However, this assertion does not provide guidance for every specific clinical situation. For African Americans with COPD, the use of race-based prediction equations appears to fall short in enhancing diagnostic accuracy, classifying severity of impairment, or predicting subsequent clinical events. We do not have information comparing race-neutral vs race-based algorithms on prediction of progression of COPD. We conclude that the elimination of race-based reference values potentially reduces underestimation of disease severity in African Americans with COPD.

The limited literature and increasing interest in studies on cardiac electrophysiology, explicitly focusing on cardiac ion channelopathies and sudden cardiac death in diverse populations, has prompted a comprehensive examination of existing research. Our review specifically targets Hispanic/Latino and Indigenous populations, which are often underrepresented in healthcare studies. This review encompasses investigations into genetic variants, epidemiology, etiologies, and clinical risk factors associated with arrhythmias in these demographic groups. The review explores the Hispanic paradox, a phenomenon linking healthcare outcomes to socioeconomic factors within Hispanic communities in the United States. Furthermore, it discusses studies exemplifying this observation in the context of arrhythmias and ion channelopathies in Hispanic populations. Current research also sheds light on disparities in overall healthcare quality in Indigenous populations. The available yet limited literature underscores the pressing need for more extensive and comprehensive research on cardiac ion channelopathies in Hispanic/Latino and Indigenous populations. Specifically, additional studies are essential to fully characterize pathogenic genetic variants, identify population-specific risk factors, and address health disparities to enhance the detection, prevention, and management of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in these demographic groups.

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UNASSIGNED: Disproportionately aggressive tumor biology among non-Hispanic Black women with early-stage, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer contributes to racial disparities in breast cancer mortality. It is unclear whether socioecologic factors underlie racial differences in breast tumor biology.
UNASSIGNED: To examine individual-level (insurance status) and contextual (area-level socioeconomic position and rural or urban residence) factors as possible mediators of racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of ER-positive breast tumors with aggressive biology, as indicated by a high-risk gene expression profile.
UNASSIGNED: This retrospective cohort study included women 18 years or older diagnosed with stage I to II, ER-positive breast cancer between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015. All data analyses were conducted between December 2022 and April 2023.
UNASSIGNED: The primary outcome was the likelihood of a high-risk recurrence score (RS) (≥26) on the Oncotype DX 21-gene breast tumor prognostic genomic biomarker.
UNASSIGNED: Among 69 139 women (mean [SD] age, 57.7 [10.5] years; 6310 Hispanic [9.1%], 274 non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native [0.4%], 6017 non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander [8.7%], 5380 non-Hispanic Black [7.8%], and 51 158 non-Hispanic White [74.0%]) included in our analysis, non-Hispanic Black (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.23-1.43) and non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native women (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01-1.86) had greater likelihood of a high-risk RS compared with non-Hispanic White women. There were no significant differences among other racial and ethnic groups. Compared with non-Hispanic White patients, there were greater odds of a high-risk RS for non-Hispanic Black women residing in urban areas (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.24-1.46), but not among rural residents (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.77-1.41). Mediation analysis demonstrated that lack of insurance, county-level disadvantage, and urban vs rural residence partially explained the greater odds of a high-risk RS among non-Hispanic Black women (proportion mediated, 17%; P < .001).
UNASSIGNED: The findings of this cohort study suggest that the consequences of structural racism extend beyond inequities in health care to drive disparities in breast cancer outcome. Additional research is needed with more comprehensive social and environmental measures to better understand the influence of social determinants on aggressive ER-positive tumor biology among racial and ethnic minoritized women from disadvantaged and historically marginalized communities.

Our study investigates the trends in prostate cancer screening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on racial disparities between Black and White men. Utilizing data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 2018, 2020, and 2022, we analyzed prostate-specific antigen screening rates in men aged 45-75 years. Our findings reveal initial declines in screening rates for both groups during the pandemic, with subsequent recovery; however, the pace of rebound differed statistically significantly between races. Whereas White men showed a notable increase in screening rates postpandemic, Black men\'s rates recovered more slowly. This disparity underscores the impact of socioeconomic factors, health-care access, and possibly systemic biases affecting health-care delivery. Our study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these inequalities and ensure equitable access to prostate cancer preventive care in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Barriers to heart transplant must be overcome prior to listing. It is unclear why Black men and women remain less likely to receive a heart transplant after listing than White men and women.
To evaluate whether race or gender of a heart transplant candidate (ie, patient on the transplant waiting list) is associated with the probability of a donor heart being accepted by the transplant center team with each offer.
This cohort study used the United Network for Organ Sharing datasets to identify organ acceptance with each offer for US non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) and non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) adults listed for heart transplant from October 18, 2018, through March 31, 2023.
Black or White race and gender (men, women) of a heart transplant candidate.
The main outcome was heart offer acceptance by the transplant center team. The number of offers to acceptance was assessed using discrete time-to-event analyses, nonparametrically (stratified by race and gender) and parametrically. The hazard probability of offer acceptance for each offer was modeled using generalized linear mixed models adjusted for candidate-, donor-, and offer-level variables.
Among 159 177 heart offers with 13 760 donors, there were 14 890 candidates listed for heart transplant; 30.9% were Black, 69.1% were White, 73.6% were men, and 26.4% were women. The cumulative incidence of offer acceptance was highest for White women followed by Black women, White men, and Black men (P < .001). Odds of acceptance were less for Black candidates than for White candidates for the first offer (odds ratio [OR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69-0.84) through the 16th offer. Odds of acceptance were higher for women than for men for the first offer (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.39-1.68) through the sixth offer and were lower for the 10th through 31st offers.
The cumulative incidence of heart offer acceptance by a transplant center team was consistently lower for Black candidates than for White candidates of the same gender and higher for women than for men. These disparities persisted after adjusting for candidate-, donor-, and offer-level variables, possibly suggesting racial and gender bias in the decision-making process. Further investigation of site-level decision-making may reveal strategies for equitable donor heart acceptance.

BACKGROUND: Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids were recently approved for sale in the United States. Research has shown that consumers prefer hearing devices that match their skin color because these devices are less noticeable. Colorism is discrimination against individuals with relatively darker skin that manifests in \"skin-color\" product offerings as products being offered primarily in relatively lighter colors.
METHODS: This study compared images of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-registered over-the-counter hearing aids to a range of human skin colors.
RESULTS: Most over-the-counter hearing aids are only offered in relatively lighter beige colors. Few over-the-counter hearing aids are available in darker skin colors.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings may represent structural bias, preventing equitable access to darker skin-color OTC hearing aids for individuals with darker skin.

Background: Whether remote blood pressure (BP) monitoring can decrease racial disparities in BP measurement during pregnancy and the postpartum period remains unclear. This study evaluated whether Black and White patients enrolled in the Connected Maternity Online Monitoring (CMOM) program showed improvements in BP ascertainment and interval. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 3,976 pregnant patients enrolled in CMOM were compared to matched usual care patients between January 2016 and September 2022 using electronic health record data. The primary outcomes were BP ascertainment (number of BP measurements) and BP interval (time between BP measurements) during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The proportion of patients with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy who checked their BP within 7 days of discharge following delivery was also assessed. Results: Enrollment in CMOM was lower among Black patients than White patients (42.1% vs 54.7%, P<0.0001). Patients in the CMOM group had more BP measurements than patients in the usual care group during pregnancy (rate ratio=1.78, 95% CI 1.74-1.82) and the postpartum period (rate ratio=1.30, 95% CI 1.23-1.37), with significant improvements for both Black and White patients enrolled in CMOM compared to patients in usual care. The CMOM intervention did not result in an improvement in 7-day postpartum adherence to checking BP for Black patients (risk ratio=1.03, 95% CI 0.94-1.11) as it did for White patients (risk ratio=1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.17). Conclusion: Remote BP monitoring programs are a helpful tool to improve the frequency of BP measurements and shorten intervals between measurements during the prenatal and postpartum periods for all patients. Future evaluation is needed to determine the barriers to offering the program to and enrolling Black patients.

UNASSIGNED: Pregnant women and their offspring are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and its adverse effects during critical periods of fetal development. Racially/ethnically minoritized women in the United States (US) who are pregnant are additionally burdened by food insecurity, which may exacerbate cardiovascular health (CVH) disparities. Despite heightened social vulnerability, few studies have employed an intersectional framework, including race and gender, to assess the food insecurity and CVH relationship.
UNASSIGNED: We used 2012-2018 and 2020 National Health Interview Survey data among US pregnant women aged 18-49 years old (N = 1,999) to assess the prevalence of food insecurity status by race/ethnicity and to investigate household food security status in relation to ideal CVH, using a modified ideal CVH (mICVH) metric. We categorized food security status as \"very low/low\", \"marginal\", or \"high\". To assess mICVH, a summary score of 7 clinical characteristics and health behaviors was dichotomized as yes [(7)] vs. no [<7]. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of associations between food security status and mICVH were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance. Models were adjusted for age, household income, educational attainment, geographic region, marital status, alcohol consumption, survey year, and race/ethnicity (in overall model).
UNASSIGNED: The mean age ± standard error was 29.0 ± 0.2 years. Among pregnant women, 12.7% reported \"very low/low\", 10.6% reported \"marginal\", and 76.7% reported \"high\" food security. \"Very low/low\" food security prevalence was higher among NH-Black (16.2%) and Hispanic/Latina (15.2%) pregnant women compared to NH-White (10.3%) and NH-Asian (3.2%) pregnant women. The mICVH prevalence was 11.6% overall and 14.5% for NH-White, 4.1% for NH-Black, 5.0% for Hispanic/Latina, and 26.7% for NH-Asian pregnant women. Among all pregnant women, \"very low/low\" and \"marginal\" vs. \"high\" food security status was associated with a lower prevalence of mICVH {[PRvery low/low = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.08-0.75)]; [PRmarginal = 0.47 (95% CI: 0.23 -0.96)]}.
UNASSIGNED: Household food insecurity was higher among pregnant women in minoritized racial/ethnic groups and was associated with lower mICVH prevalence. Given the higher burden of food insecurity among minoritized racial/ethnic groups, food security may be an important intervention target to help address disparities in poor CVH among pregnant women.