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Racial/Ethnic Differences In COVID-19 Screening, Hospitalization, And Mortality In Southeast Wisconsin
Leonard E Egede1, Rebekah J Walker2, Emma Garacci3
1Leonard E. Egede (legede@mcw.edu) is a professor, eminent scholar, and division chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine in the Department of Medicine and director of the Center for Advancing Population Science, Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Insights
Racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes are significant. Black and Hispanic individuals faced higher risks of testing positive, hospitalization, and death compared to White individuals, highlighting systemic health inequities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Racial and ethnic minorities experience disproportionate burdens of infectious diseases.
- Understanding COVID-19 disparities is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 screening, symptoms, hospitalization, and mortality.
- To identify the extent of these differences in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 31,549 adults tested for COVID-19 between March 1 and July 10, 2020.
- Statistical adjustment for demographics and comorbidities.
Main Results:
- Non-Hispanic Blacks (14.9%) and Hispanics (14.8%) screened positive for COVID-19 at higher rates than non-Hispanic Whites (4.5%).
- Adjusted analyses revealed Blacks and Hispanics were over 3x more likely to screen positive and 2x more likely to be hospitalized than Whites.
- Hispanics showed a 2x increased likelihood of mortality compared to Whites.
Conclusions:
- Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist in COVID-19 outcomes.
- Structural racism, residential segregation, and social risks likely contribute to these observed health inequities.
- Findings underscore the need to address systemic factors impacting minority health during pandemics.
Abstract:
This study aimed to understand racial/ethnic differences in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) screening, symptom presentation, hospitalization, and mortality, using data from 31,549 adults tested for COVID-19 between March 1 and July 10, 2020, in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin. Racial/ethnic differences existed in adults who screened positive for COVID-19 (4.5 percent of non-Hispanic Whites, 14.9 percent of non-Hispanic Blacks, and 14.8 percent of Hispanics). After adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, Blacks and Hispanics were more than three times more likely to screen positive and two times more likely to be hospitalized relative to Whites, and Hispanics were two times more likely to die than Whites. Given the long-standing history of structural racism, residential segregation, and social risk in the US and their role as contributors to poor health, we propose and discuss the part these issues play as explanatory factors for our findings.
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