Syracuse Sun

Earlier this month, Associate Professor of Sociology Scott Landes published a new study entitled “Disability Mortality Disparity: Risk Of Mortality For Disabled Adults Nearly Twice That For Nondisabled Adults, 2008–19” in the August edition of Health Affairs journal.

The report addresses the substantial knowledge gap on health disparities in the United States between disabled and non-disabled people. Landes answered questions from SU News about his latest research.

"Between 2008 and 2019, all-cause mortality risk was nearly two times higher for disabled than nondisabled adults," Landes stated. "This mortality disparity was not just present for some disabled people but persisted across age, gender, race-ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health status groups."

Landes noted that a mortality disparity was evident for all 28 disability status combinations examined in the study. "While all disability status combinations were associated with a higher mortality risk compared to nondisabled adults, the degree of this disparity was more severe for people with a self-care (activities of daily living) disability," he added.

Discussing healthcare for people with disabilities, Landes pointed out ongoing barriers to accessing quality care. "Research provides substantial evidence that disabled people experience ongoing barriers to accessing quality care," he said. He cited issues such as reliable transportation and inaccessible medical settings as significant obstacles. Additionally, he mentioned Dr. Lisa Iezzoni's research showing physician bias towards disabled patients.

"This research is the first time that mortality rates of disabled adults as compared to non-disabled were investigated," Landes explained when asked what led him to explore this issue. He referenced a recommendation made at the 64th Meeting of the National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) on Sept. 1, 2023. The working group suggested not designating disabled people as a health disparities population due to insufficient evidence—a suggestion ultimately not followed by the NIMHD Director.

"The dangerous precedent set here is assuming health disparities do not exist among a minority population known to experience a multiplicity of inequities," Landes commented.

In summarizing his findings, Landes emphasized the need for awareness among medical providers and policymakers. "Disabled people experience a substantial mortality disparity that extends across this population," he stated. He called for improved quality care and continued efforts toward accessibility among medical providers.

Looking ahead, Landes identified pressing questions regarding the mechanisms informing disability mortality disparity. "We need to know more about these exact mechanisms in order to better target interventions aimed at reducing this disparity," he concluded.