US Health Disparities

Canada Must Resist US Health Misinformation, Says Canadian Medical Journal

According to an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), recent cuts to US health infrastructure by the Trump administration pose risks to the health of Canadians. These cuts, including budget reductions for the NIH and personnel losses at the CDC and FDA, have diminished the US’s ability to collect and share crucial health data. As a result, the CMAJ editors urge the Canadian government to reinforce its own health surveillance systems to safeguard against the spread of communicable diseases and health misinformation emanating from the United States. They suggest improving data exchange, clarifying vaccine coverage rates, and providing clear, reliable information to counter the “cross-border bleed” of misinformation, as a significant portion of the Canadian population is susceptible to believing false health claims.

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Wealth Gap Costs Working-Class Americans 7 Years of Life

This analysis of U.S. county-level data from 2015-2019 reveals a significant disparity in life expectancy correlated with median household income. Residents of the wealthiest 1% of counties live, on average, seven years longer than those in the poorest 50%. This gap is particularly pronounced when comparing higher-income urban/suburban areas to lower-income rural communities, reaching a ten-year difference in some cases. A $10,000 income increase in rural counties correlates with a 2.6-year increase in life expectancy. The findings underscore the link between socioeconomic status and health outcomes, highlighting the need for policy changes such as a minimum wage increase and Medicare for All.

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