Use of race, ethnicity, and ancestry data in health research

Lu, Clara; Ahmed, Rabeeyah; Lamri, Amel; Anand, Sonia S.

doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001060

Cited by 51 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Importantly, both race and ethnicity are commonly assessed by self-identification. At times, these constructs are inferred by a third party, such as health care providers, without soliciting self-reporting [ 15 ], or no details are provided regarding how they were measured [ 16 ]. However, as biomedical studies have often assessed race and ethnicity based on self-reporting [ 10 , 17 ], we use the term “racial and ethnic identity ” throughout this review where appropriate.…”

Section: Race and Ethnicity Measures In Biomedical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Racial and ethnic identity is a powerful determinant of social experience and environmental exposures. In countries where such identity is associated with social standing and underscores health outcomes, these constructs are likely to capture experiences of social inequalities and structural disparities rather than reflecting true biological differences [ 16 ]. Measures of race and ethnicity in health research are more common in North America, and less so in Europe and Asia [ 11 , 16 ].…”

Section: Race and Ethnicity Measures In Biomedical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In countries where such identity is associated with social standing and underscores health outcomes, these constructs are likely to capture experiences of social inequalities and structural disparities rather than reflecting true biological differences [ 16 ]. Measures of race and ethnicity in health research are more common in North America, and less so in Europe and Asia [ 11 , 16 ]. Given the lack of data, therefore, health disparities across race and ethnicity may remain undocumented in some countries.…”

Section: Race and Ethnicity Measures In Biomedical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first three constructs (blue box), which interact with the structural and sociocultural environment, have some albeit incomplete concordance and are at times used as proxies for each other. Figure modified from Lu et al [ 16 ] …”

Section: Interrelations Of Racial and Ethnic Identity Genetic Ancestr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first steps to achieve sensitivity and awareness of the complexity of issues related to race and ethnicity are to determine the research goals and how race and ethnicity are involved in the hypothesis [ 17 ]. Then, a clearly defined operational definition and clarification of any related terms used, explicitly acknowledging how race and/or ethnicity were measured in the study, and with a critical view regarding what the construct truly represents in a given case are critical for both contextual understanding and interpretation [ 6 , 16 , 17 , 131 , 132 ].…”

Section: Application Of the Integrative Framework In Addressing Race ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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An integrative framework and recommendations for the study of DNA methylation in the context of race and ethnicity

Chan

Merrill

Konwar

et al. 2023

Discov Soc Sci Health

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Human social epigenomics research is critical to elucidate the intersection of social and genetic influences underlying racial and ethnic differences in health and development. However, this field faces major challenges in both methodology and interpretation with regard to disentangling confounded social and biological aspects of race and ethnicity. To address these challenges, we discuss how these constructs have been approached in the past and how to move forward in studying DNA methylation (DNAm), one of the best-characterized epigenetic marks in humans, in a responsible and appropriately nuanced manner. We highlight self-reported racial and ethnic identity as the primary measure in this field, and discuss its implications in DNAm research. Racial and ethnic identity reflects the biological embedding of an individual’s sociocultural experience and environmental exposures in combination with the underlying genetic architecture of the human population (i.e., genetic ancestry). Our integrative framework demonstrates how to examine DNAm in the context of race and ethnicity, while considering both intrinsic factors—including genetic ancestry—and extrinsic factors—including structural and sociocultural environment and developmental niches—when focusing on early-life experience. We reviewed DNAm research in relation to health disparities given its relevance to race and ethnicity as social constructs. Here, we provide recommendations for the study of DNAm addressing racial and ethnic differences, such as explicitly acknowledging the self-reported nature of racial and ethnic identity, empirically examining the effects of genetic variants and accounting for genetic ancestry, and investigating race-related and culturally regulated environmental exposures and experiences.

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Section: Race and Ethnicity Measures In Biomedical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Race and Ethnicity Measures In Biomedical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Race and Ethnicity Measures In Biomedical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Interrelations Of Racial and Ethnic Identity Genetic Ancestr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Application Of the Integrative Framework In Addressing Race ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

An integrative framework and recommendations for the study of DNA methylation in the context of race and ethnicity

Chan

Merrill

Konwar

et al. 2023

Discov Soc Sci Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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A Review of the Evolving Landscape of Inclusive Research and Improved Clinical Trial Access

Mohan¹,

Freedman²

2023

Clin Pharma and Therapeutics

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Current clinical research does not reflect the diversity of patient populations, despite continued recommendations to increase enrollment of under‐represented racial and ethnic groups. The ramifications of this lack of trial diversity are important because of potential differences between races and ethnicities in response to therapies, which have been observed for drugs across indications. Nonrepresentative research populations limit the generalizability of study results, which may lead to questions about safety and efficacy in certain subgroups of patients and hinder regulators, healthcare providers, and patients in their ability to adequately consider the benefits and risks of a therapeutic treatment across all populations. Renewed efforts to address healthcare disparities and increase diversity in clinical trials have demonstrated that inclusive trials are achievable and can provide scientifically rigorous results, and, thus, should stimulate greater action across all stakeholders. Ensuring that studies throughout the clinical development process include representative populations is a scientific imperative to advance health equity, racial justice, and trust in the safety and efficacy of medical therapies. This article reviews the long‐standing lack of diversity and barriers to enrollment of diverse and representative populations in clinical trials, outlines the current evolving trial landscape and the efforts of stakeholders, and provides examples from scientifically rigorous inclusive trials. The goal is to share learnings in a wider context of opportunities to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical development while ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical therapies in all populations of patients, and in doing so, provide wider patient access to therapeutic treatments.

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Validating the use of body mass index with computed tomography in a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of patients admitted with SARS‐CoV‐2

Sheean,

O'Connor,

Joyce

et al. 2024

Nut in Clin Prac

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BackgroundBody mass index (BMI) is criticized for being unjust and biased in relatively healthy racial and ethnic groups. Therefore, the current analysis examines if BMI predicts body composition, specifically adiposity, in a racially and ethnically diverse acutely ill patient population.MethodsPatients admitted with SARS‐CoV‐2 having an evaluable diagnostic chest, abdomen, and/or pelvic computed tomography (CT) study (within 5 days of admission) were included in this retrospective cohort. Cross‐sectional areas (centimeters squared) of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) were quantified. Total adipose tissue (TAT) was calculated as sum of these areas. Admission height and weight were applied to calculate BMI, and self‐reported race and ethnicity were used for classification. General linear regression models were conducted to estimate correlations and assess differences between groups.ResultsOn average, patients (n = 134) were aged 58.2 (SD = 19.1) years, 60% male, and racially and ethnically diverse (33% non‐Hispanic White [NHW], 33% non‐Hispanic Black [NHB], 34% Hispanic). Correlations between BMI and SAT and BMI and TAT were strongest revealing estimates of 0.707 (0.585, 0.829) and 0.633 (0.534, 0.792), respectively. When examining the various adiposity compartments across race and ethnicity, correlations were similar and significant differences were not detected for TAT with SAT, VAT, or IMAT (all P ≥ 0.05).ConclusionsThese findings support the routine use of applying BMI as a proxy measure of total adiposity for acutely ill patients identifying as NHW, NHB, and Hispanic. Our results inform the validity and utility of this tool in clinical nutrition practice.

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Use of race, ethnicity, and ancestry data in health research

Cited by 51 publications

References 82 publications

An integrative framework and recommendations for the study of DNA methylation in the context of race and ethnicity

An integrative framework and recommendations for the study of DNA methylation in the context of race and ethnicity

A Review of the Evolving Landscape of Inclusive Research and Improved Clinical Trial Access

Validating the use of body mass index with computed tomography in a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of patients admitted with SARS‐CoV‐2

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