Population Health News, January 2026

Health Equity and Disparities

Education and mortality at the county level: “U.S. counties with more bachelor’s degree (BA) holders see lower death rates among BA holders but higher death rates among non-BA holders.” The authors suggest that county residents may be competing for limited resources. (Syracuse University Lerner Center, Research Brief #139, December 9, 2025)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy outcomes are linked to where you live: Living in an area with a lower median household income or worse social deprivation index was linked to an increased risk of heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia. HC is considered to have a genetic etiology. (JAMA Cardiology, January 7, 2026)

An overview of health disparities and health care disparities by race and ethnicity: This comprehensive article looks at disparities in health insurance, mental health services, flu vaccines, life expectancy, infant mortality, and food insecurity, among others. (Kaiser Family Foundation, December 16, 2025)

Environmental & Climate Health and Justice

Wildfire smoke is a health hazard, and it’s getting worse: Smoke doesn’t stay local – it can travel thousands of miles, introducing pollutants to new areas. Smoke is linked to asthma and heart disease, among other health concerns. (Grist, January 2, 2026)

Contaminated soil found at Detroit demo sites: Backfill dirt provided by demolition contractors has been found to contain arsenic, lead, and other contaminants. (Detroit Free Press, January 12, 2026)

Air pollution harms adolescent brains: Exposure to pollutants in the air is associated with “accelerated cortical thinning” in the brain–even at pollution levels the EPA calls safe. (Oregon Public Broadcasting, January 12, 2026)

Built Environments, Spaces, and Places

The rural hospital closure rate is accelerating: More and more rural hospitals are closing, and many rural communities face a lack of maternity care, farther distances to travel in an emergency, and possible worsening of outcomes already worse in rural areas, such as traffic and farming accidents and chronic diseases. (Boston University School of Public Health, November 25, 2025)

Health disparities in older adults in England: “Older people in the North of England are more likely to be poorer, less healthy, physically inactive, lonely and in poor housing – resulting in millions of pounds of avoidable NHS costs.” (University of Manchester, June 23, 2025)

People with disabilities face different barriers to care: In rural areas, people with disabilities navigate “infrastructure-related challenges” like transportations and limited providers. In urban areas, people with disabilities face barriers like “overcrowded facilities and extended wait times.” Solutions must address all these factors, say the study’s authors. (Frontiers in Health Services, November 17, 2025)

Policy and Programs

Disagreement with the new vaccine schedule abounds: The new recommended vaccine schedule is generating opposition from the American Public Health Association , the American Academy of Pediatrics, and many others. (January 2026)

Consumer debt relief and racial health disparities: Debt negatively influences health by many mechanisms, including psychological distress and resource constraints. Would debt relief reduce disparities for Black Americans? (Health Affairs, December 11, 2025)

SNAP recipients still face confusion, loss of benefits, and more: Budget cuts and work requirements are also looming, and some people may not apply for SNAP benefits, believing that they don’t qualify, although they do. (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, December 10, 2025)

Universal free public school lunches linked to many benefits: Researchers found universal free lunches were linked to an 11% reduction in blood pressure rates, improved academic performance, and reduced suspensions. (University of Washington Daily from the UW School of Public Health, January 5, 2026)

Book Spotlights

What does ethnography look like in practice? In Doing Ethnography, the authors follow “the arc of a typical ethnographic study, with ethics and social justice concerns highlighted throughout.” (January 6, 2026, available from Guilford Press.)

In Sick Architecture, the authors discuss how illness and architecture are interwoven, both historically and in the present day. (October 21, 2025, published by MIT Press)