A Decade in Review: Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Stroke and Beyond

Background:

Richard T. Benson, M.D., Ph.D., is Director of the Office of Global Health and Health Disparities at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He is a leader in the fields of vascular neurology and health disparities research. His areas of research interest and expertise include health disparities and health equity research, and minority, community, and global health.

Neurological mortality is increasing in the United States and is occurring in an inequitable manner. Black Americans in particular consistently experience higher mortality rates from neurological disorders than do White Americans, and this gap has been widening since 2011.

Program background:

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke is working to eliminate the disproportionate burden of neurological disease on underserved groups of society by funding a spectrum of solution-oriented research, including basic science and clinical studies. In 2020, NINDS embarked on a systematic, inclusive strategic planning effort to identify gaps and prioritize research that has the potential to reduce health disparities and inequities in stroke and other neurological conditions.

Evaluation Methods and Results:

The planning process involved a multiple pronged approach which included: a multidisciplinary health equity workgroup with several notable leaders in health disparities research; input from the public through a publicly available request for information (RFI); input from a three half-day public virtual Health Disparities and Inequities in Neurological Disorders (HEADWAY) Workshop; and a health disparities portfolio analysis.

Conclusions:

The planning process resulted in extensive findings and actionable recommendations that are currently being summarized and will be published in a peer-reviewed journal in the coming months. Findings span topic areas including avertable deaths from neurological disease, health disparities research, stakeholder insights and engagement, and more.

Implications for research and/or practice:

Using learnings from this strategic planning process, Dr. Richard Benson will provide an overview of known disparities in stroke and other neurological disorders among Black Americans over the past ten years, as well as potential interventions, strategies, and approaches for addressing these disparities. Dr. Benson will also explore the effects of health inequities and racism on neurological health and disease. Throughout the presentation, Dr. Benson will highlight actionable insights that can be used and applied across the public health and research community.