Important Issues

A new report by Georgetown University released this week makes clear that existing health disparities are a major cause of the high death rate of African-Americans from COVID-19.

The report, entitled "Health Disparities in the Black Community: An Imperative for Racial Equity in the District of Columbia", was published by the university's School of Nursing & Health Studies. Christopher King, PhD, FACHE, chair of the Department of Health Systems Administration, was the report's lead author. 

“Black residents in our city face a disproportionate burden of disease, such as cancer, diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases, and obesity,” King said. “These health disparities result from long-standing injustices and makes the African American community much more vulnerable to a highly infectious virus like COVID-19.” 

Some of the study's findings include:

• There is a 15-year difference in the life expectancy between residents in Ward 3 and Ward 8
• Residents from wards with more African-American residents are more likely to be hospitalized for preventable health conditions
• African-Americans are three times more likely to be obese than white residents
• The rate of diabetes is seven times higher in the African-American population than whites
• The medium household income for African-Americans ($43,546)  is three times less than whites ($135,363)

For more information about health equity in medicine in the District, MSDC offers the following resources:

• June 17 webinar with Dr. Edwin Chapman and guests
• MSDC's statement on the current political protests and sad death of George Floyd
• Participate in the MSDC Unconscious Bias Task Force
• MSDC sends letter to the Council on medically underserved areas