National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Access to Care (1)
- Arthritis (1)
- Autism (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Blood Pressure (1)
- Cancer (1)
- Care Coordination (1)
- Caregiving (1)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- (-) Chronic Conditions (20)
- Community-Based Practice (1)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (1)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Cultural Competence (1)
- Diabetes (9)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Dialysis (1)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Disparities (9)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Elderly (4)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (2)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (2)
- Health Insurance (1)
- Health Literacy (1)
- Health Promotion (1)
- Health Status (2)
- Home Healthcare (2)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Hospital Readmissions (1)
- Inpatient Care (1)
- Kidney Disease and Health (2)
- Low-Income (2)
- Medicaid (1)
- Medicare (1)
- Medication (3)
- Mortality (1)
- Opioids (1)
- Outcomes (1)
- Pain (1)
- Palliative Care (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (2)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Patient Self-Management (1)
- Prevention (2)
- Quality of Care (1)
- (-) Racial and Ethnic Minorities (20)
- Risk (1)
- Screening (1)
- Sex Factors (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (2)
- Stress (1)
- Telehealth (2)
- Urban Health (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 20 of 20 Research Studies DisplayedProtudjer JLP, Greenhawt M, Abrams EM
Race and ethnicity and food allergy: remaining challenges.
Food allergy is a common chronic condition of childhood, with an increasing prevalence over time. Similar to other chronic pediatric diseases, the burden of disease falls most heavily among historically underrepresented racial and ethnic populations. This article examines challenges related to race, ethnicity and food allergy.
AHRQ-funded; HS024599.
Citation: Protudjer JLP, Greenhawt M, Abrams EM .
Race and ethnicity and food allergy: remaining challenges.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2021 Nov;9(11):3859-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.07.004..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Wallace DD, Lytle LA, Albrecht S
All of that causes me stress: an exploration of the sources of stress experienced by Latinxs living with prediabetes.
Latinxs immigrants in the United States experience sources of stress (i.e., stressors) that can limit their ability to engage in healthy behaviors. Stress has been linked to increased type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in Latinxs living with prediabetes, a group disproportionately affected by T2D. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe and contextualize the variety of stressors experienced by Latinxs immigrants diagnosed with prediabetes.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Wallace DD, Lytle LA, Albrecht S .
All of that causes me stress: an exploration of the sources of stress experienced by Latinxs living with prediabetes.
J Lat Psychol 2021 Aug;9(3):204-16. doi: 10.1037/lat0000168..
Keywords: Stress, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Behavioral Health
McCoy RG, Van Houten HK, Dunlay SM
Race and sex differences in the initiation of diabetes drugs by privately insured US adults.
The authors examined the differences in the use of three glucose-lowering medications as a function of both sex and race. They found that, compared to white men, GLP-1RA were 43% more likely to be started by White women, 12% more likely to be started by non-White men, and 21% less likely to be started by non-White women. SGLT2i were at least 10% less likely to be started by all groups compared to White men, and DPP4i were used more often by non-White than White patients of both sexes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024075.
Citation: McCoy RG, Van Houten HK, Dunlay SM .
Race and sex differences in the initiation of diabetes drugs by privately insured US adults.
Race and sex differences in the initiation of diabetes drugs by privately insured US adults..
Keywords: Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Medication, Sex Factors, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Tremblay ES, Ruiz J, Dykeman B
Hispanic caregivers' experience of pediatric type 1 diabetes: a qualitative study.
It is widely recognized that Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) outcomes are worse among Hispanic children; however, little is published about the perspectives of these patients and their caregivers. The intent of this study was to characterize the lived experience of Hispanic caregivers of children with T1D, focusing on the role of language and culture and their perspectives on current medical care and alternative care models.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Tremblay ES, Ruiz J, Dykeman B .
Hispanic caregivers' experience of pediatric type 1 diabetes: a qualitative study.
Pediatr Diabetes 2021 Jul 7;22(7):1040-50. doi: 10.1111/pedi.13247..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Diabetes, Caregiving, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cultural Competence
Lee K, Gani F, Canner JK
Racial disparities in utilization of palliative care among patients admitted with advanced solid organ malignancies.
The primary objective of this study was to describe racial differences in the use of inpatient palliative care consultations (IPCC) for patients with advanced cancer who are admitted to a hospital in the United States. Hospital admissions of patients with advanced cancers were identified through the National Inpatient Dataset. Findings showed that death during hospitalization was a significant modifier of the relationship between race and receipt of palliative care consultation. There were significant racial disparities in the utilization of IPCC for patients with advanced cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS024736.
Citation: Lee K, Gani F, Canner JK .
Racial disparities in utilization of palliative care among patients admitted with advanced solid organ malignancies.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2021 Jun;38(6):539-46. doi: 10.1177/1049909120922779..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Palliative Care, Cancer, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Healthcare Utilization, Inpatient Care, Chronic Conditions
Smith JM, Lin H, Thomas-Hawkins C
Timing of home health care initiation and 30-day rehospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes by race and ethnicity.
Older adults with diabetes are at elevated risk of complications following hospitalization. Home health care services mitigate the risk of adverse events and facilitate a safe transition home. In the United States, when home health care services are prescribed, federal guidelines require they begin within two days of hospital discharge. This study examined the association between timing of home health care initiation and 30-day rehospitalization outcomes in a cohort of 786,734 Medicare beneficiaries following a diabetes-related index hospitalization admission during 2015.
AHRQ-funded; HS022406.
Citation: Smith JM, Lin H, Thomas-Hawkins C .
Timing of home health care initiation and 30-day rehospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes by race and ethnicity.
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 May 25;18(11). doi: 10.3390/ijerph18115623..
Keywords: Elderly, Home Healthcare, Hospital Readmissions, Medicare, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Kim D, Lee Y, Thorsness R
Racial and ethnic disparities in excess deaths among persons with kidney failure during the COVID-19 pandemic, March-July 2020.
This national study estimated excess deaths for the kidney failure population by race and ethnicity from March 1 through August 1, 2020. Findings showed that, among the US kidney failure population, the number of excess deaths was 16% higher than expected, similar to reports for the general population. However, results showed that the relative increase in deaths among Black and Hispanic patients was more than 4-fold higher than that observed among White patients. The magnitude of these disparities was larger than corresponding relative ratios reported among COVID-19–associated deaths in the general population.
AHRQ-funded; HS028285.
Citation: Kim D, Lee Y, Thorsness R .
Racial and ethnic disparities in excess deaths among persons with kidney failure during the COVID-19 pandemic, March-July 2020.
Am J Kidney Dis 2021 May;77(5):827-29. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2021.02.003..
Keywords: COVID-19, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Mortality, Kidney Disease and Health, Chronic Conditions, Social Determinants of Health
Smith JM, Jarrín OF, Lin H
Racial disparities in post-acute home health care referral and utilization among older adults with diabetes.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between race/ethnicity and hospital discharge to home health care and subsequent utilization of home health care among a cohort of adults (age 50 and older) who experienced a diabetes-related hospitalization. The investigators found that among those discharged to home health care, all non-white racial/ethnic minority patients were less likely to receive services within 14-days.
AHRQ-funded; HS022406.
Citation: Smith JM, Jarrín OF, Lin H .
Racial disparities in post-acute home health care referral and utilization among older adults with diabetes.
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 19;18(6):3196. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063196..
Keywords: Elderly, Home Healthcare, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization
Feinberg E, Kuhn J, Eilenberg JS
Improving family navigation for children with autism: a comparison of two pilot randomized controlled trials.
This study looked at impacts of a modification to a pilot program called Family Navigation to help low-income, minority children needing autism-related diagnostic services receive those services. An advisory group recommended modifications to recruitment criteria and study conditions. 40 parent-child dyad participants were randomized between the two pilots to receive usual care (UC) or modified FN. Participant enrollment, satisfaction with clinical care, and timely completion of the diagnostic assessment were compared. Recruitment improved significantly with the modified protocol (4.8% vs. 19.5%) and no participants were excluded from study enrollment compared to the first pilot (43.6%). Families in the second pilot were more likely to complete diagnostic assessment and report greater satisfaction with clinical care.
AHRQ-funded; HS022155; HS022242.
Citation: Feinberg E, Kuhn J, Eilenberg JS .
Improving family navigation for children with autism: a comparison of two pilot randomized controlled trials.
Acad Pediatr 2021 Mar;21(2):265-71. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2020.04.007..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Autism, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Care Coordination, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Low-Income, Patient and Family Engagement, Chronic Conditions
Odlum M, Moise N, Kronish IM
Trends in poor health indicators among Black and Hispanic middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 1999-2018.
This study used records extracted from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to determine which health indicators have improved or became worse among Black and Hispanic middle-aged (45 and older) adults compared to Whites from 1999 to 2018. This data is required by the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000. A sample included of 4,856,326 participants, of them 60.9% women, mean age 60.4. During the last 20 years, Black adults showed an overall decrease showing improvement in uninsured status and physical inactivity while showing an overall increase in hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and stroke, and also the same increases and decreases in the Black-White gap. Hispanic adults showed improvement in physical inactivity and perceived poor health, while they showed overall deterioration in hypertension and diabetes. The Hispanic-White gap improved in coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, asthma, arthritis, depression and physical inactivity while it increased for diabetes, hypertension, and uninsured status.
AHRQ-funded; HS025198.
Citation: Odlum M, Moise N, Kronish IM .
Trends in poor health indicators among Black and Hispanic middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 1999-2018.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2025134. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25134..
Keywords: Elderly, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Health Status, Health Insurance, Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Chronic Conditions
Sun K, Szymonifka J, Tian H
Association of traditional Chinese medicine use with adherence to prescribed Western rheumatic medications among Chinese American patients: a cross-sectional survey.
Chinese Americans are a fast-growing immigrant group with worse rheumatic disease outcomes compared to white populations and frequently use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Whether TCM use is associated with lower adherence to Western rheumatic medications is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine adherence to Western medications for systemic rheumatic diseases in the Chinese American immigrant population and its association with TCM use.
Citation: Sun K, Szymonifka J, Tian H .
Association of traditional Chinese medicine use with adherence to prescribed Western rheumatic medications among Chinese American patients: a cross-sectional survey.
Arthritis Care Res 2020 Oct;72(10):1474-80. doi: 10.1002/acr.24031..
Keywords: Medication, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Arthritis, Chronic Conditions
Dos Santos Marques IC, Theiss LM, Baker SJ
Low health literacy exists in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population and is disproportionately prevalent in older African Americans.
This study assessed the prevalence of low health literacy rates among adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a diverse population and identified risk factors for low health literacy. IBD patients at a single institution from November 2017 to May 2018 were assessed for health literacy using the Newest Vital Sign (NWS). Secondary outcomes were length-of-stay (LOS) and 30-day readmissions after surgery. There were 175 patients surveyed who were 59% female, 23% African Americans, 91% with Crohn’s disease, and mean age was 46. Overall the low health literacy rate was 24%, with African Americans having a higher prevalence (47.5%) versus 17.0% for white IBD patients. Low health literacy was associated with older age and African American race. There were no significant differences between LOS and readmissions rates by health literacy levels.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Dos Santos Marques IC, Theiss LM, Baker SJ .
Low health literacy exists in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population and is disproportionately prevalent in older African Americans.
Crohns Colitis 360 2020 Oct;2(4). doi: 10.1093/crocol/otaa076..
Keywords: Elderly, Health Literacy, Digestive Disease and Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Chronic Conditions
Presley C, Agne A, Shelton T
Mobile-enhanced peer support for African Americans with Type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.
This study compared the effectiveness of a community-based diabetes self-management education (DSME) plus mobile health (mHealth)-enhanced peer support intervention to community-based DSME alone for African American adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. This randomized controlled trial took place in Jefferson County, Alabama within a safety-net healthcare system with a group diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hemoglobin A1C ≥ 7.5%. The intervention group reviewed community-based DSME plus 6 months of mHealth-enhanced peer support, including 12 weekly phone calls, then 3 monthly calls from community health workers. The control group received community based DSME only. Primary outcomes were lower A1C and secondary outcomes were lower diabetes distress, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy or confidence in their ability to manage diabetes, and social support. Of 120 participants selected, 97 completed the study. Both groups experienced clinical meaning reduction in A1C. Participants in the intervention group experienced a significantly larger reduction in diabetes distress compared to the control group.
AHRQ-funded; HS019465.
Citation: Presley C, Agne A, Shelton T .
Mobile-enhanced peer support for African Americans with Type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Oct;35(10):2889-96. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06011-w..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Self-Management, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Community-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Outcomes, Education: Patient and Caregiver
Koller KR, Day GE, Hiratsuka VY
Increase in diabetes among urban Alaska Native people in the Alaska EARTH follow-up study: a call for prediabetes screening, diagnosis, and referral for intervention.
This study estimated incidence of diabetes (DM) and pre-DM relative to DM risk factors among relatively healthy Alaska Native and American Indian (AN) adults living in urban south-central Alaska. Results showed that, controlling for age and sex, obesity, abdominal adiposity, pre-DM, and metabolic syndrome independently increased DM risk. Recommendations included advising health care providers of AN populations to seize the opportunity to screen, refer, and treat individuals with pre-DM and other modifiable DM risk factors prior to DM diagnosis in order to alter the epidemiologic course of disease progression in this urban AN population.
AHRQ-funded; HS000084.
Citation: Koller KR, Day GE, Hiratsuka VY .
Increase in diabetes among urban Alaska Native people in the Alaska EARTH follow-up study: a call for prediabetes screening, diagnosis, and referral for intervention.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2020 Sep;167:108357. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108357..
Keywords: Diabetes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Urban Health, Risk, Prevention, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Chronic Conditions
Aguilera A, Figueroa CA, Hernandez-Ramos R
mHealth app using machine learning to increase physical activity in diabetes and depression: clinical trial protocol for the DIAMANTE study.
In this randomized controlled trial, the researchers’ goal is to examine the effect of a text-messaging smartphone application to encourage physical activity in low-income ethnic minority patients with comorbid diabetes and depression. They will compare passively collected daily step counts, self-reported PHQ-8 and most recent hemoglobin A1c from medical records at baseline and at intervention completion at 6-month follow-up. They plan to submit manuscripts describing their user-designed methods and testing of the adaptive learning algorithm and will submit the results of the trial for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific meetings.
AHRQ-funded; HS025429.
Citation: Aguilera A, Figueroa CA, Hernandez-Ramos R .
mHealth app using machine learning to increase physical activity in diabetes and depression: clinical trial protocol for the DIAMANTE study.
BMJ Open 2020 Aug 20;10(8):e034723. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034723..
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Low-Income, Health Promotion
Swietek KE, Gaynes BN, Jackson GL
Effect of the patient-centered medical home on racial disparities in quality of care.
Research demonstrates that the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is associated with improved clinical outcomes and quality of care, and the populations that can most benefit from this model require long-term management, e.g., persons with chronic illness and behavioral health conditions. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between enrollment in National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)-recognized PCMHs and racial disparities in quality of care for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and comorbid medical conditions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025562.
Citation: Swietek KE, Gaynes BN, Jackson GL .
Effect of the patient-centered medical home on racial disparities in quality of care.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Aug;35(8):2304-13. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05729-x.
.
.
Keywords: Patient-Centered Healthcare, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Quality of Care, Chronic Conditions
Purnell TS, Bae S, Luo X
National trends in the association of race and ethnicity with predialysis nephrology care in the United States From 2005 to 2015.
Predialysis nephrology care is associated with better survival among patients with end-stage kidney disease. The purpose of this study was to examine national trends in racial/ethnic disparities in receipt of predialysis nephrology care at least 1 year before dialysis initiation in the United States from 2005 to 2015. The study findings suggested that national strategies to address racial/ethnic disparities in predialysis nephrology care are needed.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Purnell TS, Bae S, Luo X .
National trends in the association of race and ethnicity with predialysis nephrology care in the United States From 2005 to 2015.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Aug;3(8):e2015003. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.15003..
Keywords: Kidney Disease and Health, Dialysis, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Chronic Conditions, Disparities
Heo HH, Sentell TL, Li D
Disparities in potentially preventable hospitalizations for chronic conditions among Korean Americans, Hawaii, 2010-2012.
The researchers compared preventable hospitalizations for chronic conditions in aggregate and for congestive heart failure (CHF) for Korean Americans and whites in Hawaii. They found that older Korean American patients may have significant disparities in preventable hospitalizations, which suggests poor access to or poor quality of primary health care.
AHRQ-funded; HS019990.
Citation: Heo HH, Sentell TL, Li D .
Disparities in potentially preventable hospitalizations for chronic conditions among Korean Americans, Hawaii, 2010-2012.
Prev Chronic Dis 2015 Sep 17;12:E152. doi: 10.5888/pcd12.150057.
.
.
Keywords: Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Hospitalization, Prevention, Chronic Conditions
Ringwalt C, Roberts AW, Gugelmann H
Racial disparities across provider specialties in opioid prescriptions dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain.
The purpose of this study was to examine differences across providers’ specialties in prescriptions filled by white and black Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). It found that race-based differences in beneficiaries’ dispensed opioid prescriptions were more prominent among patients of specialists in obstetrics and gynecology and internal medicine, as well as general practitioners/family medicine physicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Ringwalt C, Roberts AW, Gugelmann H .
Racial disparities across provider specialties in opioid prescriptions dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic noncancer pain.
Pain Med 2015 Apr;16(4):633-40. doi: 10.1111/pme.12555..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Disparities, Medicaid, Medication, Opioids, Pain, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Thorpe RJ, Jr., Bell CN, Kennedy-Hendricks A
Disentangling race and social context in understanding disparities in chronic conditions among men.
This study compared survey data collected in 2003 from black and white men with similar incomes living in a racially integrated neighborhood of Baltimore to data from the 2003 National Health Interview Survey. The researchers found no race disparities in chronic conditions among low-income, urban men living in the same social environment, and they recommended that policies and interventions aiming to reduce disparities in chronic conditions focus on modifying social aspects of the environment.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Thorpe RJ, Jr., Bell CN, Kennedy-Hendricks A .
Disentangling race and social context in understanding disparities in chronic conditions among men.
J Urban Health 2015 Feb;92(1):83-92. doi: 10.1007/s11524-014-9900-9.
.
.
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Disparities, Health Status, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health