As Hispanics lag in clinical trials, health researchers take action: Outreach expands
The Nation’s Health: September 2013
There are 53 million Hispanics living in the United States today. That number is expected to grow, reaching more than 128 million by 2060, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts.
Also growing is the disproportionately high number of Hispanics living with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.
But when it comes to representation in clinical trials that could result in life-saving treatments, growth among Hispanics remains to be seen. That lack of representation has public health professionals researching reasons why numbers are so low. Some have found tools to reverse the trend, but they predict a long road ahead before there is nationwide progress.
In general, minority populations such as blacks and Asian and Pacific Islanders are poorly represented in clinical trials, despite suffering higher rates of preventable chronic illness such as diabetes and hypertension. Read more
