Racial Disparities in Lyme Disease

Instructors

Melissa Wright, MBA
Director of Patient Engagement & Outreach, LymeDisease.org

Elizabeth L. Maloney, MD
Education Co-director, Invisible International

This course uses two illustrative cases and CDC surveillance case data to discuss racial/ethnic health inequities and disparities in Lyme disease. It also discusses the role of improved clinician education in reducing known health disparities.

CME Credit Pending

Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the key elements that impact racial disparities in Lyme disease
2. Identify early Lyme disease in people of color

Evidence-based bibliography for further study

https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/whatis

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/disparities/index.htm

Sudat SEK, Wesson P, Rhoads KF, et al. Racial Disparities in Pulse Oximeter Device Inaccuracy and Estimated Clinical Impact on COVID-19 Treatment Course. Am J Epidemiol. 2023;192(5):703-713. doi:10.1093/aje/kwac164

Fawzy A, Wu TD, Wang K, et al. Racial and Ethnic Discrepancy in Pulse Oximetry and Delayed Identification of Treatment Eligibility Among Patients With COVID-19 [published correction appears in JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Oct 1;182(10):1108]. JAMA Intern Med. 2022;182(7):730-738. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.1906

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01394

Yagoda N. Addressing Health Disparities Through Voter Engagement. Ann Fam Med. Sep 2019, 17 (5) 459-461; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2441

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/tickbornedisease/reports/access-to-care-education-2022/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/datasurveillance/charts-figures-recent.html

Nelson CA, Starr JA, Kugeler KJ, Mead PS. Lyme Disease in Hispanics, United States, 2000-2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016;22(3):522-525. doi:10.3201/eid2203.151273

Louie P, Wilkes R. Representations of race and skin tone in medical textbook imagery. Soc SciMed. 2018;202:38-42. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.02.023Nolan S. How Medical Education Is Missing the Bull’s-eye. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:2489-2491 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1915891

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-01-25/3d-anatomy-models-bring-racial-representation-to-med-schools