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Risk of Clinical Severity by Age and Race/Ethnicity Among Adults Hospitalized for COVID-19-United States,

Audrey F Pennington1, Lyudmyla Kompaniyets1, April D Summers1

  • 1CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Open Forum Infectious Diseases
|February 8, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Older adults and minority groups face higher COVID-19 severity risks. Age significantly impacts outcomes, with varying effects across racial and ethnic backgrounds, highlighting the need for targeted public health strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Older adults and specific racial/ethnic groups experience disproportionately high rates of COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality.
  • Understanding these disparities is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between age, race/ethnicity, and COVID-19 clinical severity.
  • To determine if the impact of age on COVID-19 outcomes varies by race/ethnicity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 181,813 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (March-September 2020).
  • Multivariable log-binomial regression was used to evaluate associations between age, race/ethnicity, and clinical outcomes (ICU admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, death).

Main Results:

  • Increased age was strongly linked to severe COVID-19 outcomes, independent of medical conditions.
  • The association between age and mortality risk differed significantly by race/ethnicity.
  • Non-Hispanic Black patients had a lower risk of death compared to non-Hispanic White patients, while Hispanic/Latino, non-Hispanic Asian, and other racial/ethnic groups had higher risks.

Conclusions:

  • Age is a significant determinant of poor outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
  • Certain racial and ethnic minority groups may experience elevated clinical severity.
  • Public health strategies must prioritize reducing infection rates in older adults and minority populations to mitigate severe outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
2019 novel coronavirus diseaseadulthealth care disparitiesmortalityrace/ethnicity

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