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Are black and Hispanic persons disproportionately affected by COVID-19 because of higher obesity rates?

Maher El Chaar1, Keith King2, Alvaro Galvez Lima2

  • 1St Luke's University Hospital and Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Temple Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases : Official Journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery
|June 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Black and Hispanic populations in New York City experienced higher COVID-19 mortality rates. Higher obesity rates in these ethnic groups may be a contributing factor to the increased mortality during the pandemic.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted New York City (NYC), with initial reports indicating higher mortality in Black and Hispanic communities.
  • Understanding the factors contributing to these disparities is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between COVID-19 mortality rates and obesity rates across different ethnic groups and boroughs in NYC.
  • To determine if obesity prevalence warrants further evaluation as a potential factor in ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized official NYC COVID-19 data on cases and age-adjusted mortality rates by ethnic group.
  • Cross-referenced COVID-19 data with historical community health data on obesity rates across different ethnic groups and boroughs.

Main Results:

  • The Bronx and Brooklyn had the highest COVID-19 mortality rates (6% and 5.4%) and the highest obesity rates (32% and 27%, respectively).
  • Hispanic and Black populations exhibited the highest obesity rates and consequently the highest age-adjusted COVID-19 mortality rates per 100,000 (22.8% and 19.8%).

Conclusions:

  • Hispanic and Black populations in NYC faced disproportionately higher COVID-19 mortality.
  • Elevated obesity rates within these ethnic groups may have significantly contributed to the observed higher mortality incidence.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19Mortality ratesObesity

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