Racial and ethnic minority groups had higher hospitalization rates for Covid-19 and sought more attention in emergency services compared to whites, according to two new studies published Monday in the Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report. USA for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Analysis of hospitalizations from a database that included more than 3.7 million hospital discharges and approximately 300,000 hospitalized patients during March and December 2020 found that racial and ethnic minority groups were experiencing proportions. higher Covid-19-related hospitalizations compared to white patients, ”the first study said. .
In all regions, Hispanic patients accounted for the highest cumulative proportion of patients hospitalized with Covid-19.
Disparities in the proportion of hospitalized patients were greater at the onset of the pandemic (April-July) and became less pronounced as hospitalizations among white patients increased. Decreases in disparities do not necessarily reflect reduced risk for minorities, but increased risk for white patients, according to the authors.
However, at the end of the study period disparities remained in all regions, especially among Western Hispanics.
Researchers say these disparities are motivated by a higher risk factor for coronavirus exposure and a higher risk of serious illness.
The second study found that some ethnic and racial groups, including Hispanics, Native Americans, or Alaska Natives and blacks, received attention from Covid-19 emergency services at “disproportionately higher rates” compared to white patients.
There were 282,220 visits to the Covid-19 emergency department from 13 states between October and December 2020 and racial / ethnic disparities were observed between age groups.
Hispanic patients and Native Americans or Alaska Natives were more likely to seek emergency service care for Covid-19 than whites in general, as well as for each age group examined. Blacks aged 74 or older were more likely to seek emergency service attention than whites, but no differences were observed in those under 75 years of age.
The data used in the study came from 13 states, meaning that they may not be generalizable nationwide. White people also account for a larger percentage of the population in the 13 states, compared to the national population distribution.
The authors state that it is important to prioritize prevention resources, the management of underlying health conditions, safe working and school conditions, flexible permit policies, and the best access and acceptability of Covid-19 testing and vaccination for reach these disproportionately affected groups.