Review: Hospitalization and mortality among black patients and white patients with COVID-19

Review: Hospitalization and mortality among black patients and white patients with COVID-19

This retrospective cohort study found that 76.9% of the patients who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and 70.6% of those who died were black, whereas blacks comprise only 31% of the Ochsner Health population (in Louisiana.) 

  • Study occurred within a integrated-delivery health system between March 1 and April 11, 2020, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2
  • A total of 3626 patients tested positive, of whom 145 were excluded (84 had missing data on race or ethnic group, 9 were Hispanic, and 52 were Asian or of another race or ethnic group)
  • Black patients were almost twice as likely to live in low-income areas as white patients (33.9% vs 60.5%). Black patients had higher prevalences of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease than white patients.
  • Black race was associated with approximately twice the odds of hospital admission as white race (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62 to 2.37).
    • In addition, increasing age, a higher score on the Charlson Comorbidity Index, public insurance (Medicare or Medicaid), residence in a low-income area, and obesity were associated with an increased odds of admission, whereas female sex was associated with lower odds of admission.
  • Among the 326 patients who died from Covid-19, 70.6% were black. However, black race was not independently associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio for death vs. white race, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.68 to 1.17).
|2020-05-29T11:15:23-04:00May 28th, 2020|COVID-19 Literature|Comments Off on Review: Hospitalization and mortality among black patients and white patients with COVID-19

About the Author: Megan McHenry

Megan McHenry
Megan S. McHenry, MD, MS, FAAP is a pediatrician and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. McHenry's research focuses on early childhood development in children living in resource-limited settings. This work is frequently aligned with community-engaged research and dissemination and implementation science frameworks. She primarily conducts research in collaboration with the Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) Research Network in Kenya. Dr. McHenry currently has a career development award through the National Institutes of Health to develop a neurodevelopmental screening program for children born to HIV-infected mothers in Kenya. Dr. McHenry is also the Director of Pediatric Global Health Education and a co-Director of the Morris Green Physician-Scientist Development Program at Indiana University School of Medicine. In additional to global health lectures, she also educates residents and students on early childhood development, basic biostatistical techniques, research methodologies, and research ethics. She mentors multiple pediatric fellows, residents, and medical students interested in early childhood development within global contexts.

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