Health Equity and Access Weekly Roundup: January 27, 2024

Dr David Adamson Recommends Professional Collaboration Amidst Abortion Law Variations

David Adamson, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, FACS, CEO of ARC Fertility, advises tackling the challenges of diverse reproductive care laws by actively engaging in professional organizations. Emphasizing collaboration among health care professionals and patients, he highlights the importance of committee participation and meeting attendance to stay informed about evolving guidelines. This involvement enables physicians to better understand diverse values, ultimately improving clinical care.

Female Patients Less Likely to Receive Guideline-Directed HFrEF Therapies vs Males

A recent study in Circulation reveals low usage of guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMTs) for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), especially among females. The cohort of 63,759 patients showed low baseline GDMT use at HFrEF diagnosis, with a slight increase within 3 months. Only 1.4% reached target doses of all GDMT classes by 12 months. Sex differences were noted, with females significantly less likely to achieve optimal GDMT compared with males. The study emphasizes the need to improve GDMT use to address readmission burdens and survival disparities, particularly among undertreated HFrEF patients, especially females.

Dr Melinda Aldrich on Disparities and the Importance of Screening in Lung Cancer

Melinda Aldrich, PhD, associate professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, discusses her research on racial disparities in lung cancer outcomes. She focuses on developing risk models for lung cancer screening eligibility, incorporating factors like family history. Dr. Aldrich emphasizes the need to raise awareness about lung cancer screening, currently reaching only 10-15% of eligible individuals compared with 80% for mammography. She underscores the importance of addressing barriers, including medical mistrust and structural racism, to ensure equitable access to lung cancer screening and improve outcomes for all populations.

Veterans' Mental Health Care Trends Favor Telemedicine

A study within the US Department of Veterans Affairs health care system analyzed clinical outpatient encounters from January 2019 to August 2023, revealing post-COVID-19 telemedicine trends. Telephone-based care has returned to pre-pandemic levels, while video-based care, especially in mental health, has become significant. Despite stabilized telemedicine rates since May 2021, telephone visits are decreasing, and mental health video visits are increasing. The study highlights the need to address access disparities and calls for further research on the quality and health outcomes of telemedicine in this new health care landscape.

Racial Disparities Persist in Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Racial disparities persist in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), particularly affecting non-Hispanic African American (NHAA) individuals, who are twice as vulnerable to MM compared with non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients, according to a Cancer Medicine study. The study suggests affordability of costly medications, like lenalidomide, may contribute to these disparities. The authors call for continued investigations into MM treatment barriers, emphasizing the need to address and understand factors causing delayed treatment initiation in specific populations.