Latinos, Blacks behind on health

Report: Blacks, Latinos Lag Behind In Health
Latino Substance Abuse Deaths Up 500 Percent, Report Says
The Boston Channel, April 24, 2009

BOSTON -- Mortality rates have dropped in Boston and deaths from cancer, heart disease and substance abuse are in decline, but a gaping disparity between the health of white and minority residents still looms as the biggest challenge facing the city, according to an annual health report.

The city’s 2009 Health of Boston report found that there were 3,812 deaths in 2007, compared to 4,412 deaths in 2002 -- a 13.6 percent drop. Cancer remained the leading cause of death in Boston, followed by heart disease, injuries, stroke, and substance abuse, the report found.

Smoking was also down from 15 percent in 2001 to 7 percent in 2007 among high school students. Less adults were lighting up in recent years as well, according to the report, which found that 16 percent of adults smoked in 2006 compared to 24 percent five years earlier.

Black and Latino residents, however, continue to suffer disproportionately high levels of chronic disease, mortality and poorer health than white residents, according to the report. Black infants are still the most likely to die at birth or suffer from low birthweight or the affects of preterm birth. Black infants accounted for 27 percent of all births in 2007, but 48 percent of all infant deaths, according to the report.

Black and Latino residents were also beset by chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and asthma, in far greater proportions than white residents. The report found a 200 percent increase in the number of Latinos hospitalized for diabetes in 2006 compared to figures from 1998.

Substance abuse deaths among Latinos also soared 500 percent between 1999 and 2007, despite a citywide decline in the substance abuse mortality rate of 7 percent. Officials said that the city is working to combat the increase by rolling out intensive treatment programs and neighborhood no-drug coalitions.

The report also found, however, that life expectancies were the highest among Latino residents and women, at 80.3 years and 81.4 years respectively. White residents had a life expectancy of 79.1 years, while black residents had the lowest life expectancy at 73.8 years, according to the report.