How Business Leaders Can Help Combat Health Disparities

Sarah Louden, MHA, MBA, Founder and CEO of Total Health.

Disparities persist across the U.S. in health, healthcare and in health outcomes along social, ethnic, racial, economic and environmental lines. These disparities are fueled by many factors, including poverty, housing unaffordability, inadequate access to healthy foods, language barriers, a lack of support systems, violence and more.

People of color, those in rural communities, those with physical or cognitive challenges and people who are economically deprived are all at greater risk for health inequalities. Unfortunately, decades of discrimination and systemic and structural inequities fuel a great number of health disparities. Being the founder of a medical information company that focuses on cancer, I pay close attention to these disparities in relation to cancer, especially.

Disparities In Cancer Outcomes

The Black population has the highest cancer death rate of any population group, according to the Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2022 by the American Association for Cancer Research. The pandemic widened the inequities in treating cancer because the adverse effects of Covid-19 were disproportionately higher among Black and Hispanic populations. Because of this, individuals from these communities could experience more delays in returning to routine cancer screening, the AACR’s report said.

In women under 40, breast cancer incidence rates are higher in Black women than in white women. More specifically, Black women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and over 40% more likely to be diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups, according to the AACR report. In addition, from 2014 to 2018, Black men had a 73% higher prostate cancer incidence rate compared to white men, “a disparity that has persisted for decades,” the AACR also stated. Disparities in Black men as compared to white also exist in lung cancer incidence, colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, and multiple myeloma incidence and mortality.

AACR’s research highlighted disparities in the Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native communities, too. Hispanic people have higher rates of liver, stomach and cervical cancers versus the white population. In fact, compared to white men and women, Hispanic men and women have “nearly double the incidence and mortality rates for liver and stomach cancers.” When looking at cervical cancer rates in Hispanic women, specifically, they have about a 47% higher incidence risk and 20% higher risk of death versus white women.

Furthermore, when compared to the white population, the incidence rate among Native American tribal groups for all cancers combined is 49% higher in those living in the Southern Plains. Additionally, the incidence of kidney cancers is 80% higher compared to the white population, and that’s across most regions. The incidence of liver cancer in AI/AN groups is almost double that which is found in white Americans.

As to people residing in rural areas, these individuals have higher death rates for all cancer sites combined compared to urban areas.

Improving Health Equity And Reducing Disparities

I believe our ability to make progress in the fight against cancer depends heavily on eliminating inequities that exist in cancer prevention and treatment. There is some movement at the government level in recognizing and tackling cancer disparities, which we can see with the establishment of organizations such as the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities.

Here are five ways business and community leaders can help move the needle as well:

1. Promote awareness.

Be aware of and promote solutions that offer equal access to research and care for patients in marginalized groups and communities. You can take a proactive approach to staying informed by following digital platforms run by local leaders and organizations that support healthcare equality. Extend their efforts by sharing new information with your own personal and professional networks.

2. Become an advocate.

Advocate for policies that aim to reduce disparities in cancer, such as by increasing the availability of prevention and early detection services, patient navigation, insurance coverage, in-network facilities and clinical trials.

3. Be a voice and resource within your community.

Encourage other leaders to do the same. As noted by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, social determinants of health, such as education, healthy food, housing and employment, influence health inequities at the local level and emphasize the need for actionable support. Leaders and organizations can get involved in boots-on-the-ground activities aimed at ending disparities in healthcare. You can corral others in your community and company to join you in supporting any mission-driven initiatives.

4. Explore partnerships.

Consider partnering with like-minded organizations and companies that are engaging in efforts to reduce healthcare disparities. Whether it’s supporting their current initiatives, bringing new ideas to the table or serving as a community liaison, be an ambassador by taking a role in furthering their messages and supporting their missions.