Race Disaggregation and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Youth Mortality

To the Editor A recent study evaluating differences in all-cause and cause-specific mortality in youth patients from different racial groups across the US highlighted subpopulations at the greatest risk of increased mortality, who therefore have the greatest need for targeted public health intervention. However, by aggregating the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander with Asian populations, the authors masked Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander health disparities. As Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander physicians and health care researchers, we have concerns about the authors’ conclusions that aggregated Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander youths with the much larger Asian population.