Black men who underwent lung function tests between 2010 and 2020 and potentially received inaccurate or delayed diagnoses and medical interventions due to the biased algorithm

2023-06-01

A study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that racial bias built into a commonly used medical diagnostic algorithm for lung function may be leading to underdiagnoses of breathing problems in Black men. The study suggests that as many as 40% more Black male patients might have been accurately diagnosed if the software were not racially biased. The software algorithm adjusts diagnostic thresholds based on race, affecting medical treatments and interventions.