Minority Health

April is Minority Health Month! You may be more at risk for some diseases depending on your ethnic background.

Your race and ethnicity have an impact on your overall health and may affect your risk of some chronic health conditions. Some of this increased risk is due to genetics. It may also be due in part to cultural and lifestyle habits. But there are other factors that may affect your risk of disease and these are referred to as health disparities.

Health disparities highlight differences in social, economic, educational and healthcare opportunities among various ethnicities. These include less access to quality healthcare, social and economic disadvantages, increased risk of disease from environmental exposure at work or home, discrimination and/or mistrust in the healthcare system.

Here are some health conditions that are more commonly found in certain ethnic groups:

• Diabetes: American Indians and Alaska Natives are at the highest risk of developing diabetes. African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans are also at an increased risk. Additionally, minorities are more likely to have complications from diabetes, such as heart or kidney disease, eye damage or nerve problems.
• Heart Disease: Even though white Americans have the highest rate of heart disease diagnosis they are less likely than African Americans to die of the disease.
• High Blood Pressure: African Americans have the highest risk for hypertension (high blood pressure). They’re also more likely to get it at an earlier age.
• Kidney Disease: African Americans are most at risk for this disease and are almost four times more likely to die of kidney failure than other ethnicities. Hispanics and American Indians are also more at risk.
• Cancer: African American males are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate, lung and colon cancer and are more likely to die from these common cancers. American Indians and Alaska Natives are more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer and die from it. These same groups, as well as Asians and Pacific Islanders are more likely to get liver cancer.
• HIV/AIDS: Although African Americans make up about 13% of the U.S. population, they account for almost half of new HIV diagnoses. Hispanics account for almost a quarter of new HIV cases.
• Osteoporosis: Asian American women are at an increased risk of osteoporosis, in part due to the higher likelihood of them having thin, small-boned frames. Additionally, nearly 90% of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant, making it difficult for them to get calcium from dairy products.
• Asthma: African Americans and Hispanics (especially people from Puerto Rico) are more likely to have asthma, end up in the emergency room because of it and die from the condition.
• Lupus: This autoimmune disease is most common in African American women. Hispanic, Asian and American Indian women are also at an increased risk.

In addition to some ethnicities being at an increased risk for being diagnosed with various diseases, there are also disparities in the survival rates of different ethnic groups who have similar health conditions.

Maintaining regular visits with your primary care physician (PCP) and staying up to date with health screenings can help prevent many of these health conditions and allow your PCP to be your health advocate and first contact for care in treating them. Visit PIHHealth.org/PrimaryCare to find a doctor or advanced practitioner (an NP or PA) who’s right for you or your family member.