Black and Asian women are more likely than white women to experience significant delays in
The study looked at 45,186 caseswomen whose mammograms show a tissue abnormality requiring a biopsy to determine the presence of cancer. Across the study population, 34.6% of women were not biopsied within 30 days, 16% were not biopsied within 60 days, and 12% were not biopsied within 90 days.
Using time to biopsy as reference inwhite patients, the researchers found the following: After 30 days, Asian women had a 66% higher risk of not getting a biopsy, and black women – 52% higher, and among Hispanic women – 50% higher.
After 90 days, black women were 28% more likely to refuse a biopsy. Among Asian women and Hispanic women, the risk was higher by 21% and 12%, respectively.
Digging deeper, the researchers examined the impactpre-established institution-level factors – academic affiliation, mode of screening, and availability of on-site biopsy – and were surprised to find that “neither of these factors explained the apparent difference.”
The authors wrote: "Structural racism, both within and outside the health care system, may contribute to these disparities."