This week’s release of the Health of Boston 2023 report by the Boston Public Health Commission highlights persistent health disparities among various demographic groups and neighborhoods in the city that historically were underrepresented. The study reveals, among other key findings, that residents with lower median incomes experience higher premature mortality rates, and that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on life expectancy in these communities.
The report identifies concerning disparities in life expectancy among neighborhoods, with a 23-year gap between areas with the highest and lowest life expectancies. The study also notes an increase in premature mortality among Black residents and neighborhoods with lower incomes.
Health equity proponents were buzzing over the report’s focus on the global pandemic’s worsening racial and ethnic health inequities, with Latinx residents experiencing the greatest decrease in life expectancy. The report further emphasizes disparities in chronic disease outcomes, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma, with higher rates among certain racial and ethnic groups.
Public health officials aim to address these health inequities by collaborating with communities and implementing programs to improve overall health and well-being in Boston.
The report’s Executive Summary can be found here.
