Efforts to eliminate race-based diagnostic and treatment criteria in medicine are gaining momentum, as healthcare institutions and professional organizations recognize the need to address systemic biases that contribute to health disparities. American Medical Association+3Modern Healthcare+3AAFP+3

The Problem with Race-Based Medicine

Historically, race has been used as a factor in various clinical algorithms and guidelines, often based on the erroneous assumption that race is a biological determinant of health. This practice has led to misdiagnoses and unequal treatment. For example, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation included a race adjustment that could delay diagnosis and treatment for Black patients with kidney disease. Similarly, the Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) calculator incorporated race, potentially influencing decisions about delivery methods for women of color. Modern Healthcare+2HealthyChildren.org+2Medscape+2American Medical Association+3Modern Healthcare+3arXiv+3

Steps Toward Change

Recognizing these issues, several organizations have taken action:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has committed to reviewing and revising its guidelines to eliminate race-based medicine. This includes re-examining recommendations for conditions like urinary tract infections and newborn jaundice, where race was previously considered a risk factor. PubMed+6NBC 6 South Florida+6HealthyChildren.org+6
• The National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology have advocated for removing race modifiers from the eGFR equation, promoting more equitable assessment of kidney function. Modern Healthcare+1arXiv+1
• Healthcare systems like the University of Maryland Medical System have updated their VBAC calculators to exclude race, focusing instead on clinical factors such as hypertension. NBC 6 South Florida+3American Medical Association+3Modern Healthcare+3

Emphasizing Social Determinants of Health

Experts argue that focusing on social determinants—such as socioeconomic status, access to care, and environmental factors—provides a more accurate and equitable approach to patient care than race-based adjustments. Race is increasingly recognized as a social construct rather than a biological one, and its use in clinical decision-making can perpetuate structural racism. Modern Healthcare+1PubMed+1

Moving Forward

To dismantle race-based medicine, stakeholders recommend: American Medical Association+6PubMed Central+6HealthyChildren.org+6

• Increasing diversity in clinical trials to ensure guidelines are representative of all populations. Medscape+2PubMed Central+2PubMed+2
• Broadening the focus of precision medicine to include social and environmental factors. PubMed Central+1PubMed+1
• Educating healthcare professionals about the impact of structural racism on health outcomes. PubMed
• Developing guidelines and policies that support culturally responsive care. PubMed+1PubMed Central+1



By implementing these strategies, the medical community aims to provide more equitable care and improve health outcomes for all patients. AAFP+7PubMed Central+7Modern Healthcare+7