Demography | Penn Today

Two people standing over a table signing documents.

Philadelphia tenants face an increasingly hostile legal terrain

A new Penn Law study of 170,000 residential leases finds incidences of illegal, unenforceable terms have increased sharply over the last 20 years.

An image with four maps of the U.S. shaded in different colors, with the text "Males" and "Females" up top. Below the first two maps reads "Absolute changes in mortality rate (ages 25-44) 1990-92 to 2015-17" and underneath that, "Deaths per 100,000 population." Below the bottom two maps reads, "Absolute changes in mortality rate (ages 45-64) 1990-92 to 2015-17" and underneath that, "Deaths per 100,000 population."

Q&A

Young and middle-age adults in the U.S. dying at higher rates

According to a new National Academies report, cardiometabolic conditions now join drug overdoses, alcohol, and suicide as significant mortality causes. In a Q&A, demographer Irma Elo explains.

A close-up of an old chipping door. Blurred in the background is a sign that reads "EVICTION NOTICE" in all capital letters.

Eviction linked to depression risk in young adults

Research from sociologist Courtney Boen and anthropologist Morgan Hoke shows that this issue, compounded by the toll of the pandemic, disproportionately affects low-income households and communities of color.

Hand holding a blood pressure gauge measuring the blood pressure of another person whose arm is extended.

Racial and ethnic factors affect access to treatment for heart disease

Researchers uncover a link between racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors and whether Black, Latinx, and lower-income patients receive rhythm control strategies for atrial fibrillation.

Yard full of standing colorful t-shirts with the names of people killed by guns in black marker written across them.

Regardless of socioeconomic status, Black communities face higher gun homicides

In a Wharton study, chair of the Statistics Department Dylan Small says reasons for the disparity include institutional racism, underinvestment in communities, and housing segregation.

Heart monitor in a hospital room, a patient in a hospital bed behind it.

Where the economy falters, deaths from heart disease rise

A new study finds that the diverging economic fortunes of different parts of the country is linked to differing death rates from heart disease and stroke among middle-aged Americans.

Four empty vials for human stool samples.

Take-at-home tests boost colorectal cancer screening tenfold

By making it the default to send screening tests to patients’ homes unless they opted out via text message, screening rates increased by more than 1000%.

African American person wearing a face mask having their temperature taken via forehead scanner by a masked, gloved medical professional.

Patients in cancer remission at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness

Patients with inactive cancer and not currently undergoing treatments also face a significantly higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, with Black cancer patients twice as likely to test positive for the virus.

Ruby Washington holds a bioengineered cast in the shape of a human leg.

Ruby Washington is poised to make her mark in bioengineering

The senior in Penn Engineering’s Department of Bioengineering weds biomedicine and her pursuit in addressing healthcare disparities in the Black community.

Three medical professionals in full PPE wheel a gurney with a patient towards elevator doors.

Opiate overdoses spike in Black Philadelphians, but drop in white residents since COVID-19

New research into opioid overdoses that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights new disparities along racial lines that are likely fueled by existing inequality.

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