Association Between Racial Wealth Inequities and Racial Disparities in Longevity Among US Adults and Role of Reparations Payments, 1992 to 2018

• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.40519
• Publication Date: 2022-11-07T16:01:22Z
• Authors: Kathryn E. W. Him...; Jourdyn A. Lawrence; Jaquelyn L. Jahn; Joniqua N. Ceasar; Michelle Morse; Mary T. Bassett; Bram P. Wispelwey; William A. Darity; Atheendar S. Venk...
• Keywords: Marital status; Household income

In the US, Black individuals die younger than White and have less household wealth, a legacy of slavery, ongoing discrimination, discriminatory public policies. The role wealth inequality in mediating racial health inequities is unclear.To assess contribution to longevity gap that exists between US model potential effects reparations payments on this gap.This cohort study analyzed association survival among participants Health Retirement Study, nationally representative panel community-dwelling noninstitutionalized adults 50 years or older assessed data collected from April 1992 July 2019. Participants included 7339 non-Hispanic (hereinafter Black) 26 162 White) respondents. Data were January 1 September 17, 2022.Household sum all assets (including real estate, vehicles, investments), minus value debts.The primary outcome was all-cause mortality by end survey follow-up 2018. Using parametric models, associations race, evaluated, adjusting for age, sex, number members, marital status. Additional models controlled educational level income. eliminating current mean with ($828 055 per household) simulated.Of 33 501 sample, weighted 50.1% women, (SD) age at entry 59.3 (11.1) years. participants' median life expectancy 77.5 (95% CI, 77.0-78.2) years, 4 shorter (81.5 [95% 81.2-81.8] years). Adjusting demographic variables, had hazard ratio death 1.26 1.18-1.34) compared participants. After differences did not differ significantly race (hazard ratio, 1.00 0.92-1.08]). simulations, close associated reductions 65.0% 102.5%.The findings suggest are US. Reparations eliminate might substantially narrow mortality.