Pulmonary Hypertension in Underrepresented Minorities: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Minoritized racial and ethnic groups suffer disproportionately from the incidence and morbidity of pulmonary hypertension (PH), as well as its associated cardiovascular, pulmonary, and systemic conditions. These disparities are largely explained by social determinants of health, including access to care, systemic biases, socioeconomic status, and environment. Despite this undue burden, minority patients remain underrepresented in PH research. Steps should be taken to mitigate these disparities, including initiatives to increase research participation, combat inequities in access to care, and improve the treatment of the conditions associated with PH.

Keywords: clinical trial representation; health disparities; pulmonary hypertension; social determinants of health.

Figure 1

Non-pharmacologic methods to reduce healthcare disparities in pulmonary hypertension.