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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Richard J. David, MD, Stroger Cook County Hospital, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1901 W. Harrison St., Division of Neonatology, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-864-3555, rdavid@uic.edu and James W. Collins, MD, MPH, Northwestern University, Children's Memorial Hospital, 2300 Children's Plaza, Division of Neonatology, Chicago, IL 60614.

Since 1950 dramatic advances in human genetics have occurred, racial disparities in infant mortality have widened and US international ranking in infant mortality has deteriorated. The quest for a “preterm birth gene” to explain racial differences is now underway, with over 86 original reports of polymorphisms associated with prematurity published since 1997, most since 2003. Is this massive search justified? We review broad epidemiological patterns that call into question the hypothesized genetic mechanisms that form the basis of much current research. Overall patterns of racial disparities in mortality, secular changes in rates of prematurity and low birth weight as well as birth weight patterns in infants of African immigrant populations contradict the genetic theory of race and point toward social mechanisms underlying racial health disparities. Implications for the future health of US birth populations – African American and others – will be explored.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Disacuss the recent history of genomic research in health disparities;
• Describe new genetic approaches to preterm birth;
• Discuss inconsistancies between epidemiology of health disparities and theory underlying genomic studies.

Keywords: Genetics, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation