February 12, 2024

Dr. Mike's Top of Mind

COVID-19 Still Around

Looks like COVID-19 infections are here to stay, but people are too relaxed. Masks are coming off, the third booster isn't popular, and testing isn't happening despite suspicious symptoms. CDC estimates 1 in 25 has an active COVID infection in a room. 

Sadly, lives are still being lost. African Americans account for nearly 20% of deaths, despite being 13% of the population. Let's not forget long COVID, affecting 5% to 10% of patients. New variants keep popping up, and it's not far-fetched to think one could trigger another global pandemic.There is a cure, Paxlovid, for active COVID-19 infections. Black patients were 36% less likely to be prescribed a cure. Many patients are unaware of this treatment, and things could worsen if they have to pay for the government-provided treatment. Stick with masks, get the booster shot, keep testing, and get treatment if you have symptoms of an active COVID infection.

Stay Healthy,

Dr. Mike

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This Week

And Black America: Articles that Impact the Health of Black Americans

• Race and Research
• Racism Can Make You Tired and Anxious as Well
• AI in Health Might Not Work Well for People of Color
• Exciting Alzheimer's Drug Shows Promise: But Black Americans May Be Let Out

Health News

• Dexter Scott King, Son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Dies from Prostate Cancer
• This is Cervical Cancer Month: Black Women Most at Risk
• Pfizer Is Now Charging $1,400 for Paxlovid: Here's How to Get it for Free
• Are White Coats the new White Hoods: The Historical Roots to Racism and Bias in Healthcare

There is an ongoing discussion about using race as a criteria in research. This article from the NEJM reviews the argument against including race in research and finding it wanting. "Algorithms excluding race info can underestimate diabetes risk for Asian patients and Colorectal Cancer risk for Black patients. This can worsen health disparities in the name of equity." 

Why It Matters: Advocates for removing race from algorithms often argue that identifying genetic ancestry and quantifying social determinants of health is challenging, and better data collection is necessary. That's a complex problem but not too complex to solve. If I'm in a high-risk category, I'll pay attention.

Racial discrimination was linked to a higher likelihood of anxiety disorders, with specific disorders varying by gender. For African American men, more discrimination experiences were associated with a greater likelihood of Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia in the past year, and a higher likelihood of any anxiety disorder in their lifetime. African American women who reported more discrimination were more likely to have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder in the past year, and a range of anxiety disorders over their lifetimes. Unfortunately, most of this anxiety goes untreated.

Population and public health are amidst an AI revolution that could drastically change care delivery and practice models. However, AI can also reflect biases that involve race and gender. This paper provides examples that bias affects data-driven reflections about certain groups.

AI is the future, but its formulas can sometimes mirror biases in healthcare, especially towards people of color. Flawed information can lead to unreliable conclusions, so it's our responsibility to ensure implementation of guidelines to prevent biases from influencing medical decision-making, especially for high-risk populations.

The new drug is Leqembi. The drug is the first to clearly slow the fatal neurodegenerative ailment, Alzheimers,  that afflicts 6.7 million older Americans, though the benefits may be modest.  However in   the pivotal clinical trial for the drug, Black patients globally accounted for only 47 of the 1,795 participants — about 2.6 percent. For U.S. trial sites, the percentage was 4.5 percent. So there is not enough data to determine how the drug will work for Black Americans. So much more research is necessary.

Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has passed away at 62 after battling Prostate Cancer, as confirmed by The King Center. Despite progress in treatment, Prostate Cancer  remains the second leading cause of death for Black men. I recommend getting a PSA, and if suspicious, opting for an MRI for early diagnosis and management options. Find more info on our website aawellnessproject.org or listen to our podcast on Prostate Cancer at Black Doctors Speak.

Globally, Cervical Cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The virus can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as sexual intercourse, skin-to-genital contact, and oral sex. Adjusted for population, Hispanic women are most likely to develop this cancer, followed by Black women. Despite declining mortality rates, Black women still face an 80% higher likelihood of developing Cervical Cancer And 1 ½ times more likely to die from this form of cancer than white women. A pap smear makes the diagnosis.

From BlackDoctor.org the warning signs of Cervical Cancer. Check out the link and the diagnosis is made by pap smear

HHS and Pfizer have announced patient assistance programs that will provide Paxlovid for free to people on federal insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid until at least the end of 2024. These programs will also cover the cost of the drug for people without insurance and most of the copay for people who are “underinsured”—that is, have a copay they can’t afford.

Join us every Monday in February for a special African American Wellness Watch in honor of Black History Month! Today, we're excited to have Samantha Artiga, VP & Director of Racial Equity and Health Policy at KFF, and our Founder, Dr. Michael LeNoir, discussing the vital topic of health disparities affecting the African American community. Let's make this Black History Month a time of awareness and action! Join us on Mondays for crucial discussions that empower and uplift our community.

For more information, go to our website at www.aawellnessproject.org. or listen to our podcast at Blackdoctorsspeak.org on any podcast platform.

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DR. MIKE'S ETHNIC HEALTH REPORT