Working Paper: NBER ID: w16578
Authors: Pinka Chatterji; Heesoo Joo; Kajal Lahiri
Abstract: This paper studies racial/ethnic disparities in awareness of chronic diseases using biomarker data from the 2006 HRS. We estimate a 3-step sequential probit model which accounts for selection into: (1) participating in biomarker collection; (2) having illness (hypertension or diabetes); (3) being aware of illness. Contrary to studies reporting that African-Americans are more aware of having hypertension than non-Latino whites, we do not find this conclusion holds after self-selection and severity are considered. Likewise, African-Americans and Latinos are less aware of having diabetes compared to non-Latino whites. Disparities in unawareness are exacerbated when we limit the sample to untreated respondents.
Keywords: chronic diseases; awareness; racial disparities; biomarker data
JEL Codes: I1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Race/Ethnicity (African Americans and Latinos) (J15) | Awareness of Diabetes (I10) |
| Treatment Status (I12) | Awareness of Diabetes (I10) |
| Race/Ethnicity (African Americans and Latinos) (J15) | Awareness of Hypertension (I10) |
| Education (I29) | Awareness of Hypertension (I10) |