Black adults living in zip codes historically impacted by redlining have an 8% higher risk of developing heart failure than Black adults in non-redlined areas, according to a new study published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journal Circulation. The study revealed the long-lasting effects of redlining, a racist lending practice that denied loans and insurance to people of color seeking to purchase houses outside undesirable areas of cities.
During the early 20th century, US banks engaged in redlining, which fueled segregation and discrimination. The practice was eventually banned in the late 1960s, but its impact is still felt today. The study analyzed data on more than 2.3 million residents enrolled in Medicare between 2014 and 2019, linking it with residential ZIP codes.
The findings highlight the disproportionate health risks faced by Black residents in historically redlined communities. In addition to heart failure, these neighborhoods also experience higher rates of hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, according to previous research by the American Heart Association.
The study found that approximately half of the excess risk of heart failure among Black adults in redlined communities is explained by higher levels of socioeconomic distress. Discriminatory housing policies have had a lasting impact on the health of these communities, even though they were outlawed decades ago.
Interestingly, the study revealed that White adults living in communities with a high proportion of redlining did not have a higher risk of heart failure. This disparity further emphasizes the harm caused by discriminatory and racist housing policies on generations of Black adults and suggests the long-term impact on cardiovascular health disparities.
“These findings show us the harm that discriminatory and racist housing policies have had on generations of Black adults and suggest the long-term impact of such policies on cardiovascular health disparities,” said Dr. Ambarish Pandey, one of the study’s co-authors.
The study not only sheds light on the ongoing effects of historical redlining practices but also highlights the need for addressing socioeconomic disparities and promoting health equity in historically marginalized communities.