Ethnic Dis
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This article offers a brief history of healthcare civil rights, describes a range of healthcare issues that have a civil rights component, and discusses the need for an expanded civil rights framework to guide the provision of health care. Unequal health care based on race and ethnicity has received renewed attention over the past several years, but healthcare discrimination based on socioeconomic status, disability, age, and gender also deserve careful attention.
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Comparative Study
Leisure time physical activity and metabolic syndrome in Asian Indian immigrants residing in northern California.
Immigrant Asian Indians possess major lipid and non-lipid risk factors that constitute features characteristic of metabolic syndrome. First-line therapy recognized in risk management of this syndrome is weight reduction and increased physical activity. We investigated the relationship of intensity and duration of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) to physiological indices of metabolic syndrome in Asian Indian immigrants. ⋯ We provide evidence that Asian Indians who are physically active have a more favorable metabolic syndrome risk factor profile. Results highlight need to encourage physical activity in Asian Indian immigrants, particularly women, to reduce prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
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Hypertension is a major contributor to ethnic disparities in cardiovascular disease, especially among low-income African Americans in the southeast United States. ⋯ In healthcare settings for medically under-served patients, the greater prevalence and lesser control of hypertension, despite similar treatment intensity, may contribute to higher rates of cardiovascular disease among African Americans than Caucasians.
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Little is known regarding pediatric racial/ethnic disparities. We sought to determine if racial/ethnic disparities exist in the severity, mortality, or medical disposition of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ This study is one of the first to examine potential disparities in trauma and contributes to the small but growing literature in pediatric health disparities. Multiple explanations are explored, several with potential implications for reducing disparities in other health conditions. Identifying conditions in which evaluation and treatment appears to be free of disparities may provide insights for subsequent investigations and interventions.
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Comparative Study
Standard electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy in Nigerian hypertensives.
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Various electrocardiographic criteria for LVH have differing sensitivities and specificities. Most of the available electrocardiographic criteria for LVH have not been evaluated in the African populace. ⋯ Sokolow-Lyon and Sokolow-Lyon-Rappaport voltage criteria combine the best sensitivity and specificity values and would seem better suited for the diagnosis of ECG LVH in Nigerians.