Health Care Disparities in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Cardiology and Pulmonary Medicine
• Health Disparities Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Current pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) management relies on clinical trial and registry data.
• Significant underrepresentation of minority populations, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, exists in these data sources.
• This lack of representation raises concerns about the generalizability of current PAH knowledge and treatment guidelines to diverse patient groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing knowledge on healthcare disparities in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
• To highlight the significance of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic factors in PAH patient populations.
• To propose actionable future steps for achieving health justice and equality in pulmonary hypertension care globally.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current knowledge on health care disparities in PAH.
• Analysis of the impact of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on PAH patient data.
• Synthesis of findings to propose future strategies for equitable healthcare access.

Main Results:

• Evidence indicates underrepresentation of minority groups in PAH clinical trials and registries.
• Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors significantly influence PAH prevalence, presentation, and potentially treatment response.
• Current data is not fully generalizable, potentially leading to suboptimal care for underrepresented populations.

Conclusions:

• Addressing underrepresentation and disparities is essential for equitable PAH management.
• Future research and policy initiatives must prioritize inclusivity and socioeconomic considerations.
• Achieving health justice in pulmonary hypertension requires a global commitment to equal access and care.