Behind every staggering health statistic lies a human story of unequal chances, as revealed by the sobering reality that in America, a Black baby is more than twice as likely to die before its first birthday and a Black woman is 3.5 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than her White counterpart.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, Black infants in the United States had an infant mortality rate of 10.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is 2.3 times higher than the rate for White infants at 4.6 per 1,000
- Hispanic adults aged 18-64 were 1.5 times more likely to report being uninsured in 2022 compared to non-Hispanic Whites, with uninsured rates of 19.5% vs 7.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native people experienced a diabetes mortality rate of 38.8 per 100,000 in 2020, 1.7 times higher than the White rate of 22.9 per 100,000
- In 2022, individuals below 200% of the federal poverty level were 3.2 times more likely to delay care due to cost than those above 400%, at 24.1% vs 7.5%
- Low-income adults (income <25k) had diabetes prevalence 12.5% in 2021, vs 7.8% for high-income (>75k)
- People in the lowest income quartile had 2.8 times higher preventable hospitalization rates in 2019
- Women experienced 1.2 times higher depression diagnosis rates than men in 2021, at 10.5% vs 8.2%
- Transgender individuals had suicide attempt rates 7.4 times higher than cisgender in 2022, 40% lifetime vs 5.4%
- Men had 2.1 times higher colorectal cancer mortality than women in 2020, 19.2 vs 9.1 per 100,000
- Rural residents had 1.9 times higher opioid death rates than urban in 2021, 21.1 vs 11.2 per 100,000
- Urban poor had ambulance response times 2.3 times longer in underserved areas in 2022
- Rural adults had cancer mortality 1.4 times higher than urban, 178.5 vs 127.3 per 100,000 in 2020
- Adults over 85 had dementia prevalence 33.4% vs 1.9% under 65 in 2021
- Disabled adults had unemployment 2.1 times higher, limiting insurance at 25.3% uninsured vs 10.2%
- Children under 5 in low-income homes had 2.8 times higher obesity
Shocking racial and income-based healthcare disparities lead to severe, preventable suffering across the US.
Age and Disability Disparities
- Adults over 85 had dementia prevalence 33.4% vs 1.9% under 65 in 2021
- Disabled adults had unemployment 2.1 times higher, limiting insurance at 25.3% uninsured vs 10.2%
- Children under 5 in low-income homes had 2.8 times higher obesity
- Elderly Medicare beneficiaries had 1.7 times higher hospitalization readmissions
- Adults with disabilities had preventive service use 18% lower, 62.4% vs 80.5% in 2020
- Teens aged 12-17 had mental health crisis visits 31% increase 2019-2022
- Wheelchair users had primary care access 2.4 times lower due to facility barriers
- Adults 65+ had flu vaccination rates 72.1% vs 48.3% under 65 in 2022, but pneumonia higher
- Intellectually disabled had life expectancy 20 years lower, 54 vs 74 average
- Young adults 18-25 had substance use disorder treatment gap 80% unmet in 2021
- Hearing impaired elderly had depression rates 2.2 times higher
- Children with autism had 3.1 times higher bullying-related mental health issues
- Centenarians had healthcare costs 4.5 times average per capita in last year
- Visually impaired had fall injury rates 1.9 times higher than sighted peers
- Adolescents with disabilities had HPV vaccination 22% lower completion
- Adults 75+ had polypharmacy rates 42% vs 12% under 65, increasing adverse events
- Disabled workers had health insurance instability 2.8 times higher
- Infants under 1 had hospitalization for RSV 2.2 times higher in preterm
- Elderly with mobility disability had malnutrition 3.1 times risk
- Young adults 18-24 had lowest vaccination rates for tetanus, 62%
- Autism spectrum adults had employment 85% unemployment rate
- Age 65-74 had hip fracture rates 10 times under 65
- Chronic disabled had COVID mortality 2.9 times non-disabled
- Children with developmental disabilities had dental decay 2.0 times higher
- Seniors 85+ had dementia care costs averaging $100k/year per person
Age and Disability Disparities Interpretation
Our healthcare system is an uneven escalator where aging can strand you without support, disability often blocks the exit to basic care, and youth can still be weighed down before they even reach the steps.
Gender Disparities
- Women experienced 1.2 times higher depression diagnosis rates than men in 2021, at 10.5% vs 8.2%
- Transgender individuals had suicide attempt rates 7.4 times higher than cisgender in 2022, 40% lifetime vs 5.4%
- Men had 2.1 times higher colorectal cancer mortality than women in 2020, 19.2 vs 9.1 per 100,000
- Lesbian and bisexual women had obesity rates 25% higher than heterosexual women, 38.4% vs 30.7% in 2019
- Women delayed cancer treatment 1.5 times more due to caregiving in 2021
- Gay and bisexual men had HIV prevalence 44 times higher than heterosexual men in 2021
- Women over 65 had osteoporosis screening 2.3 times higher than men, but fracture rates higher due to underdiagnosis
- Trans women had breast cancer screening 30% lower due to access barriers in 2022
- Men had workplace injury-related disability claims 1.8 times higher, affecting long-term health access
- Bisexual individuals had mental health treatment gaps 1.6 times wider than heterosexuals in 2021
- Women veterans had PTSD rates 1.9 times higher post-deployment than male veterans
- Lesbian women had cervical cancer screening 12% lower than straight women in 2020
- Men under 50 had heart disease diagnosis delays 2.4 times more due to symptom ignorance
- Non-binary adults reported healthcare discrimination 3.2 times higher than binary genders in 2022
- Women had chronic pain prevalence 1.5 times higher, but opioid prescriptions 20% lower than men
- Gay men had PrEP access 2.1 times lower in rural areas despite higher need in 2021
- Women had Alzheimer's prevalence 2.3 times higher than men at age 80+
- Transgender youth had 2.5 times higher eating disorder rates
- Men had lung cancer incidence 1.7 times women despite similar smoking history
- Bisexual men had depression 1.8 times higher than gay men
- Women caregivers missed 2.1 million workdays for health issues in 2022
- Lesbian women had higher cardiovascular risk factors 1.4 times
- Men delayed mental health help 3.6 times more than women
- Trans men had pelvic exam avoidance 4.2 times higher
- Women had autoimmune diseases 4 times more common
- Gay men had syphilis rates 100 times higher than general population in 2022
Gender Disparities Interpretation
It is a grim comedy of systemic neglect where, regardless of which axis of identity you stand on, the healthcare system seems expertly calibrated to find the precise way to miss your needs entirely.
Geographic Disparities
- Rural residents had 1.9 times higher opioid death rates than urban in 2021, 21.1 vs 11.2 per 100,000
- Urban poor had ambulance response times 2.3 times longer in underserved areas in 2022
- Rural adults had cancer mortality 1.4 times higher than urban, 178.5 vs 127.3 per 100,000 in 2020
- Southern states had stroke death rates 30% higher than Northeast in 2021
- Rural children had dental provider shortages leading to 2.1 times more emergency extractions
- Appalachian region had diabetes rates 15% higher than national average in 2022
- Urban minorities had 1.7 times higher asthma ED visits due to pollution exposure
- Rural elderly had fall-related hospitalizations 1.6 times higher, 45.2 vs 28.1 per 1,000
- Western rural areas had suicide rates 1.8 times urban in 2021
- Gulf Coast states had maternal mortality 2.2 times national average post-hurricanes
- Inner-city youth had lead poisoning rates 3.4 times suburban in 2020
- Remote island communities had vaccination rates 25% lower for flu in 2022
- Midwest rural hospitals closed at 2.5 times urban rate, reducing access by 40%
- Rural hospitals had 20% higher maternal complication rates in 2021
- Urban food deserts had diabetes prevalence 1.5 times rural food deserts
- Alaska Natives had 2.0 times higher cancer incidence due to remoteness
- Northeast urban had lowest infant mortality, Southwest rural highest gap 2.8 times
- Rural Medicare spending per enrollee 12% higher due to transport costs
- Detroit zip codes had life expectancy 20 years variance within city
- Pacific islands had TB rates 5 times continental US average
- Rural behavioral health facilities closed 1.7 times faster
- Border towns had uninsured rates 2.3 times national average
- Mountain West rural had arthritis disability 1.6 times urban
Geographic Disparities Interpretation
America's healthcare tapestry is not a uniform safety net but a frayed patchwork where your zip code dictates your dose of desperation, revealing that geography often proves a more potent predictor of health than genetics.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
- In 2021, Black infants in the United States had an infant mortality rate of 10.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is 2.3 times higher than the rate for White infants at 4.6 per 1,000
- Hispanic adults aged 18-64 were 1.5 times more likely to report being uninsured in 2022 compared to non-Hispanic Whites, with uninsured rates of 19.5% vs 7.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native people experienced a diabetes mortality rate of 38.8 per 100,000 in 2020, 1.7 times higher than the White rate of 22.9 per 100,000
- Asian Americans had the lowest cancer screening rates for colorectal cancer at 52.3% in 2019, compared to 67.8% for Whites, contributing to later-stage diagnoses
- In 2022, Black women were 3.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women, with rates of 69.9 vs 19.1 per 100,000 live births
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders had an HIV diagnosis rate 2.4 times higher than Whites in 2021, at 12.2 per 100,000 vs 5.1 per 100,000
- In 2020, non-Hispanic Black adults had hypertension prevalence of 57.1%, compared to 45.2% for non-Hispanic Whites
- Latinos were 1.9 times more likely to lack a usual source of care in 2021 than Whites, at 28.4% vs 15.1%
- Asian adults reported mental health treatment at 18.7% in 2021, lower than 32.1% for Whites, due to stigma barriers
- American Indians faced 2.1 times higher stroke mortality in 2019, 52.3 per 100,000 vs 24.8 for Whites
- Black children had asthma hospitalization rates 4.6 times higher than White children in 2020, at 28.1 vs 6.1 per 1,000
- Hispanics had 1.4 times higher obesity rates among adults in 2021, 32.6% vs 23.1% for Whites
- Native Hawaiians had liver cancer incidence 2.3 times higher than Whites in 2018-2022
- Black men had prostate cancer mortality 2.1 times higher than White men in 2021, 38.9 vs 18.5 per 100,000
- Asian women had cervical cancer screening rates 10% lower than White women at 75.2% vs 85.4% in 2020
- Black infants in the United States had an infant mortality rate of 10.9 per 1,000 live births in 2020, compared to 4.4 for White infants
- Non-Hispanic Black adults were twice as likely to have diagnosed diabetes as non-Hispanic Whites in 2019, 13.4% vs 7.5%
- American Indian/Alaska Native suicide rates were 3.7 times the national average in 2021
- Hispanic women had breast cancer diagnosed at later stages 1.6 times more often than non-Hispanic Whites
- Asians/Pacific Islanders had tuberculosis rates 15.3 times higher than Whites in 2022
- Black Americans had kidney failure incidence 3.4 times higher than Whites in 2021
- Latinos experienced 1.3 times higher COVID-19 hospitalization rates than Whites in 2021
- Native Americans had alcohol-induced death rates 4.2 times higher in 2020
- Black youth had firearm homicide rates 18.6 times higher than White youth in 2021
- Hispanics over 65 had 1.8 times lower flu vaccination rates, 48.2% vs 68.1%
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Interpretation
The American healthcare system seems to be a paradox: it promises universal care yet delivers vastly unequal outcomes, where one's race or ethnicity can tragically serve as a grim predictor of their health, or even their life expectancy.
Socioeconomic Disparities
- In 2022, individuals below 200% of the federal poverty level were 3.2 times more likely to delay care due to cost than those above 400%, at 24.1% vs 7.5%
- Low-income adults (income <25k) had diabetes prevalence 12.5% in 2021, vs 7.8% for high-income (>75k)
- People in the lowest income quartile had 2.8 times higher preventable hospitalization rates in 2019
- Uninsured adults were 4.7 times more likely to forgo needed prescriptions in 2022, 42.3% vs 9.0%
- Low-SES neighborhoods had 1.9 times higher COVID-19 mortality in 2021
- Adults with incomes under $30,000 reported fair/poor health at 28.4% in 2021, vs 9.2% for $75,000+
- Low-income children had dental care access 2.4 times lower, with only 52.1% visits vs 78.3% high-income in 2020
- Households below poverty had mental health provider access at 45.7% in 2022, vs 72.1% above poverty
- Low-SES adults had mammography screening 15% lower at 68.2% vs 83.4% in 2021
- Income <20k group had hypertension control rates 32.1% vs 48.7% for >50k in 2020
- Poor adults had 3.1 times higher opioid overdose death rates in 2021
- Low-income elderly had home health care use 2.2 times higher due to delayed preventive care
- Medicaid enrollees had emergency department visits 2.6 times higher than privately insured in 2019
- Bottom income quintile had life expectancy 4.7 years lower than top quintile in 2021
- Low-SES women had preterm birth rates 1.8 times higher at 12.3% vs 6.8% in 2022
- Adults earning less than $25,000/year had 2.5 times higher smoking rates, 28.9% vs 11.5% in 2021
- Low-income families had food insecurity linked to 1.4 times higher child asthma prevalence
- Uninsured rate for low-income was 27.4% vs 4.3% high-income in 2022
- Bottom 20% income had heart disease mortality 1.6 times top 20% in 2019
- Poor neighborhoods had 2.0 times more fast food outlets, correlating with obesity
- Medicaid adults had specialist wait times 3.1 times longer in 2021
- Low-SES had 22% lower colorectal screening adherence
- Poverty-level households had lead exposure 2.7 times higher in children
- Low-income workers had injury rates 1.9 times higher without sick leave
- Poor adults had sleep disorders 1.5 times more prevalent, affecting immunity
Socioeconomic Disparities Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim portrait of American healthcare where your bank balance is a pre-existing condition that predicts everything from your lifespan to your likelihood of seeing a dentist, proving that while sickness may be universal, the chance to prevent or treat it is a luxury item.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 2KFFkff.orgVisit source
- Reference 3SAMHSAsamhsa.govVisit source
- Reference 4SEERseer.cancer.govVisit source
- Reference 5AHRQahrq.govVisit source
- Reference 6COMMONWEALTHFUNDcommonwealthfund.orgVisit source
- Reference 7MCHBmchb.hrsa.govVisit source
- Reference 8MILLIONHEARTSmillionhearts.hhs.govVisit source
- Reference 9HEALTHAFFAIRShealthaffairs.orgVisit source
- Reference 10HEALTHSYSTEMTRACKERhealthsystemtracker.orgVisit source
- Reference 11NIMHnimh.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 12WILLIAMSINSTITUTEwilliamsinstitute.law.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 13NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 14BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 15PTSDptsd.va.govVisit source
- Reference 16HEARTheart.orgVisit source
- Reference 17HIVhiv.govVisit source
- Reference 18URBANurban.orgVisit source
- Reference 19HRSAhrsa.govVisit source
- Reference 20EPAepa.govVisit source
- Reference 21SHEPSCENTERshepscenter.unc.eduVisit source
- Reference 22ALZalz.orgVisit source
- Reference 23DOLdol.govVisit source
- Reference 24CMScms.govVisit source
- Reference 25WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 26NIDAnida.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 27NIDCDnidcd.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 28NEInei.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 29ERSers.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 30CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 31USPREVENTIVESERVICESTASKFORCEuspreventiveservicestaskforce.orgVisit source
- Reference 32SLEEPFOUNDATIONsleepfoundation.orgVisit source
- Reference 33EATINGDISORDERHOPEeatingdisorderhope.comVisit source
- Reference 34LUNGlung.orgVisit source
- Reference 35AARPaarp.orgVisit source
- Reference 36AHAJOURNALSahajournals.orgVisit source
- Reference 37MHANATIONALmhanational.orgVisit source
- Reference 38JAMANETWORKjamanetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 39NIAMSniams.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 40ACOGacog.orgVisit source
- Reference 41AUTISMSPEAKSautismspeaks.orgVisit source