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Study finds bias in AI models for cancer diagnosis

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have uncovered demographic bias in AI models used for cancer diagnosis, revealing that these models perform unequally across different gender, race, and age groups due to limited diversity in training data. The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, introduced a framework called FAIR-Path that effectively mitigates 88.5% of these disparities. This highlights the critical need for systematic bias checks in AI to ensure equitable health care outcomes. Harvard Medicine (12/16) Learn More

Rising pediatric behavioral health costs burden families

Children's behavioral health care accounted for 40% of health care expenses in 2022, up from 22.4% in 2011, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics. Yearly out-of-pocket spending for behavioral health increased 6.4% for families, compared with 2.7% for other health care. "Families with at least one child who has behavioral health issues are 60% more likely to face a high financial burden, and 40% more likely to have an extreme financial burden -- meaning more than 10% of their family income goes toward that care," researcher Ashley Foster said. HealthDay News (12/16) Learn More

Pilot program harnesses social media to find kidney donors

Three Pennsylvania hospitals are using social media to help find living kidney donors. The Great Social Experiment, funded by the Gift of Life Donor Program, pairs patients with "angel advocates" who share their stories online. The initiative has already led to several successful matches, offering hope to patients with limited social networks. "Most patients are too sick to do this on their own -- many don't have the skills to do it on their own," said the pilot program's founder, filmmaker David Krissman. The Associated Press (12/16) Learn More

More health care workers worked while sick with COVID-19

The proportion of US health care personnel working while symptomatic with COVID-19 increased significantly during the pandemic, rising from 1.4% in 2020 to 15.2% in 2024, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. This upward trend, known as presenteeism, suggests that more health workers are choosing or feeling compelled to work despite being ill as time goes on. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (12/16) Learn More

Cardiovascular Quality and Research News

ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

Study finds bias in AI models for cancer diagnosis

Rising pediatric behavioral health costs burden families

Pilot program harnesses social media to find kidney donors

Teen substance use continues to drop, reaching historic lows

More health care workers worked while sick with COVID-19

Couples-based cardiac preventive care effective

Follow-Up Lipid Testing and Statin Initiation Among Young Adults in a US Health Care System