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Racial and sociodemographic predictors of COVID-19 compared with influenza, appendicitis, and all-cause

Eva Raphael1,2, Kristen M J Azar1,3, Dian Gu4,5

  • 1Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA.

Ethnicity & Health
|March 12, 2023
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 inequities in infection and hospitalization were distinct from other conditions like influenza, with higher risks observed in Latine and Spanish-speaking populations. Targeted public health interventions are crucial for these vulnerable groups.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Understanding health inequities is crucial for effective public health strategies.
  • COVID-19 has disproportionately affected certain demographic groups, necessitating comparison with other common medical conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare racial/ethnic and sociodemographic inequities in COVID-19 infection and hospitalization with those of influenza, appendicitis, and all-cause hospitalization.
  • To identify predictors of hospitalization for COVID-19 and influenza.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study utilizing electronic health records from three San Francisco healthcare systems.
  • Analysis of racial/ethnic distribution and sociodemographic predictors of hospitalization for COVID-19, influenza, appendicitis, and all-cause hospitalizations.

Main Results:

  • Racial/ethnic distribution and hospitalization rates for COVID-19 differed significantly from influenza and appendicitis across all healthcare systems.
  • Latine patients showed higher COVID-19 infection rates in the public healthcare system compared to influenza and appendicitis.
  • COVID-19 hospitalizations were linked to male sex, Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity, Spanish language, and public insurance in the university system, and Latine ethnicity and obesity in the community system.

Conclusions:

  • Significant racial/ethnic and sociodemographic inequities exist in COVID-19 infection and hospitalization, differing from other medical conditions.
  • Latine and Spanish-speaking individuals consistently faced higher odds of COVID-19 related disparities.
  • Disease-specific public health efforts and structural interventions are essential to address these health disparities.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19health inequitieshospitalizationsinfluenzarace and ethnicity

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