Racial and ethnic minority groups had higher hospitalization rates for Covid-19 and required more care in the emergency department compared to white people, according to two new studies published Monday in the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Weekly Report on morbidity and mortality.
“The analysis of hospitalizations in a database that includes over 3.7 million discharges and approximately 300,000 patients hospitalized between March and December 2020 found that racial and ethnic minority groups had higher proportions of hospitalization related to Covid-19 compared to white patients, ”said the first study. .
In each region, Hispanic patients accounted for the highest cumulative proportion of patients hospitalized with Covid-19.
Disparities in the proportion of hospitalized patients were greatest at the beginning of the pandemic – from April to July – and became less pronounced as hospitalizations increased among white patients. The decrease in disparities does not necessarily reflect the reduced risk for minorities, but the increased risk for white patients, the authors said.
However, disparities remained at the end of the study period in all regions, especially among Western Hispanics.
The researchers say that these disparities are caused by a higher risk factor for coronavirus exposure and a higher risk of severe disease.
The second study found that some racial and ethnic groups, including Hispanics, Native Americans, or Alaska Natives and blacks, received emergency care for Covid-19 at “disproportionately higher rates” compared to white patients.
Between October and December 2020, there were 282,220 visits to the Covid-19 emergency department in 13 states and racial / ethnic disparities were observed between age groups.
Hispanic and Native American or Alaska Native patients were more likely to seek emergency care for Covid-19 than white people in general, as well as for each age group examined. Black people aged 74 and over were more likely to seek emergency care than white people, but no differences were observed in those under 75 years of age.
The data used in the study came from 13 states, which means that they may not be generalizable across the country. White people also represent a higher percentage of the population in the 13 states, compared to the distribution of the national population.
The authors say it is important to prioritize prevention resources, managing the underlying health conditions, safe school and working conditions, flexible leave policies, and improved access to and acceptability of Covid-19 testing and vaccination to achieve these. disproportionately affected groups.