Socioeconomic Inequity and Inequality Results in Disproportionate Detrimental Impact to Racialized Populations in North America and the UK (original) (raw)
Related papers
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes: Social Determination of Health
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
As of 18 October 2020, over 39.5 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 1.1 million associated deaths have been reported worldwide. It is crucial to understand the effect of social determination of health on novel COVID-19 outcomes in order to establish health justice. There is an imperative need, for policy makers at all levels, to consider socioeconomic and racial and ethnic disparities in pandemic planning. Cross-sectional analysis from COVID Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research COVID Racial Data Tracker was performed to evaluate the racial and ethnic distribution of COVID-19 outcomes relative to representation in the United States. Representation quotients (RQs) were calculated to assess for disparity using state-level data from the American Community Survey (ACS). We found that on a national level, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, and Black people had RQs > 1, indicating that these groups are ...
Journal of Women's Health, 2021
Background: Nearly half of U.S. women experienced new or worsening health-related socioeconomic risks (HRSRs) (food, housing, utilities and transportation difficulties, and interpersonal violence) early in the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to examine racial/ethnic disparities in pandemic-related changes in HRSRs among women. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey (04/2020) of 3200 women. Pre-and early pandemic HRSRs were described by race/ethnicity. Weighted, multivariable logistic regression models generated odds of incident and worsening HRSRs by race/ethnicity. Results: The majority of Black, East or Southeast (E/SE) Asian, and Hispanic women reported ‡1 prepandemic HRSR (51%-56% vs. 38% of White women, p < 0.001). By April 2020, 68% of Black, E/SE Asian, and Hispanic women and 55% of White women had ‡1 HRSR (p < 0.001). For most HRSRs, the odds of an incident or worsening condition were similar across racial/ethnic groups, except Black, E/SE Asian and Hispanic women had 2-3.6 times the odds of incident transportation difficulties compared with White women. E/SE Asian women also had higher odds of worsening transportation difficulties compared with White women (adjusted odds ratios = 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1-5.6). In the early pandemic, 1/19 Hispanic, 1/28 E/SE Asian, 1/36 Black and 1/100 White women had all 5 HRSRs (extreme health-related socioeconomic vulnerability). Conclusions: Prepandemic racial/ethnic disparities in HRSRs persisted and prevalence rates increased for all groups early in the pandemic. Disparities in transportation difficulties widened. White women were much less likely than others to experience extreme health-related socioeconomic vulnerability. An equitable COVID-19 response requires attention to persistent and widening racial/ethnic disparities in HRSRs among women.
Social inequality and the syndemic of chronic disease and COVID-19: county-level analysis in the USA
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2021
Background Given the effect of chronic diseases on risk of severe COVID-19 infection, the present pandemic may have a particularly profound impact on socially disadvantaged counties. Methods Counties in the USA were categorised into five groups by level of social vulnerability, using the Social Vulnerability Index (a widely used measure of social disadvantage) developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence and mortality from COVID-19, and the prevalence of major chronic conditions were calculated relative to the least vulnerable quintile using Poisson regression models. Results Among 3141 counties, there were 5 010 496 cases and 161 058 deaths from COVID-19 by 10 August 2020. Relative to the least vulnerable quintile, counties in the most vulnerable quintile had twice the rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths (rate ratios 2.11 (95% CI 1.97 to 2.26) and 2.42 (95% CI 2.22 to 2.64), respectively). Similarly, the prevalence of major chronic conditions was 24%–41% higher in the most vulnerable counties. Geographical clustering of counties with high COVID-19 mortality, high chronic disease prevalence and high social vulnerability was found, especially in southern USA. Conclusion Some counties are experiencing a confluence of epidemics from COVID-19 and chronic diseases in the context of social disadvantage. Such counties are likely to require enhanced public health and social support.
Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes by Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status
JAMA Network Open, 2021
IMPORTANCE COVID-19 has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups, and race and ethnicity have been associated with disease severity. However, the association of socioeconomic determinants with racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of race and ethnicity with COVID-19 outcomes and to examine the association between race, ethnicity, COVID-19 outcomes, and socioeconomic determinants.
2020
Background: Initial reports suggest that ethnic minorities may be experiencing more severe clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) infections. We therefore assessed the association between ethnic composition, income deprivation and COVID19 mortality rates in England. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional ecological analysis across upper tier local authorities in England. We assessed the association between the proportion of the population from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, income deprivation and COVID19 mortality rates using negative binomial regression models, whilst adjusting for population density, proportion of the population aged 50-79 and 80+ years, and the duration of the epidemic in each area. Findings: Local authorities with a greater proportion of residents from ethnic minority backgrounds had statistically significantly higher COVID19 mortality rates, as did local authorities with a greater proportion of residents experiencing deprivation relating to low income. After adjusting for income deprivation and other covariates, each percentage point increase in the proportion of the population from BAME backgrounds was associated with a 1% increase in the COVID19 mortality rate [IRR=1.01, 95%CI 1.01-1.02]. Each percentage point increase in the proportion of the population experiencing income deprivation was associated with a 2% increase in the COVID19 mortality rate [IRR=1.02, 95%CI 1.01-1.04]. Interpretation: This study provides evidence that both income deprivation and ethnicity are associated with greater COVID19 mortality. To reduce these inequalities governments need to target effective control measures at these disadvantaged communities, ensuring investment of resources reflects their greater need and vulnerability to the pandemic.
Inequalities in COVID19 mortality related to ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation
2020
BackgroundInitial reports suggest that ethnic minorities may be experiencing more severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) outcomes. We therefore assessed the association between ethnic composition, income deprivation and COVID19 mortality rates in England.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional ecological analysis across England’s upper-tier local authorities. We assessed the association between the proportion of the population from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, income deprivation and COVID19 mortality rates using multivariable negative binomial regression, adjusting for population density, proportion of the population aged 50–79 and 80+ years, and the duration of the epidemic in each area.FindingsLocal authorities with a greater proportion of residents from ethnic minority backgrounds had statistically significantly higher COVID19 mortality rates, as did local authorities with a greater proportion of residents experiencing deprivation relating to low income. ...
2021
The SARS-CoV-2 infection, which causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has affected lives, with very adverse outcomes in specific populations in the United States of America (USA), a high-income country, and two middle-income countries, Brazil and South Africa. This paper aims to discuss the relationship of race/ethnicity with COVID-19-associated factors in the three countries. The information is based on data collected from infectious disease/epidemiological centers in the USA, Brazil, and South Africa. Adverse COVID-19 outcomes have been associated with the burden of exposure and disease, linked to socioeconomic determinants, among specific ethnicities in all three countries. The prevalence of comorbidities before and the likelihood of work-related exposure in the context of COVID-19 infection puts ethnic minorities in the USA and some ethnic majorities and minorities in Brazil and South Africa at greater risk. We envisage that this work will contribute to ongoing discussions related to addressing socioeconomic determinants of health, and the need for stakeholders in various sectors to work on addressing observed health disparities for overall improvement in health and healthcare given the current pandemic.
Health disparity and COVID ‐19—A retrospective analysis
Health Science Reports, 2021
Background and Aims: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 75.7 million confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have been reported so far. Researchers are working relentlessly to find effective solutions to this catastrophe, using genomic sequence-based investigation, immunological analysis, and more. The role of health disparity has also emerged as an intriguing factor that made a huge impact on the lives of people. Methods: We analyzed various factors that triggered the health disparity in the United States of America along with the rate of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, we have also focused on the State of Mississippi, which is suffering from an extreme health disparity. Data have been obtained from publicly available data sources including, Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Mississippi State Department of Health. Correlation analysis of the dataset has been performed using R software. Results: Our analysis suggested that the COVID-19 infection rate per 100 000 people is directly correlated with the increasing number of the African American population in the United States. We have found a strong correlation between the obesity and the COVID-19 cases as well. All the counties in Mississippi demonstrate a strong correlation between a higher number of African American population to COVID-19 cases and obesity. Our data also indicate that a higher number of African American populations are facing socioeconomic disadvantages, which enhance their chances of becoming vulnerable to pre-existing ailments such as obesity, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion: We proposed a possible explanation of increased COVID-19 infectivity in the African American population in the United States. This work has highlighted the intriguing factors that increased the health disparity at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic on the role of socioeconomic status in health outcomes
Anthos, 2021
This open access Article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). All documents in PDXScholar should meet accessibility standards. If we can make this document more accessible to you, contact our team. Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Role of Socioeconomic Status in Health Outcomes Leila Karout Current Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has evoked extreme circumstances for many around the world. As of the time of this writing, the World Health Organization has reported 159,319,384 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,311,780 deaths globally. The United States alone has seen a total of 32,424,637 confirmed cases and 576,814 total deaths. 1 While risk factors, clinical characteristics of patients, mortality, and morbidity are all under consistent study, the information we have now on the pandemic and its effects on various populations shows similar patterns and themes. Current research has shown that severe obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and kidney disease are the most prevalent underlying health conditions for individuals with COVID-19. These conditions have demonstrated an increase in morbidity of the virus. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 8, 9 As of May 18th, 2020, the CDC reported 8,134 (76.4%) of deaths from COVID 19 to be associated with at least one underlying medical condition (including 83.1% of deaths for those under 65 years). The most common being cardiovascular disease (60.9%), diabetes mellitus (39.5%), chronic kidney disease (20.8%), and chronic lung disease (19.2%). 7 SES is a complex composition of social and economic factors that influence an individual, or a community's experiences. Socioeconomic status (SES) plays a substantial role in an individual's life due to the resources and opportunities that come along with it such as education, quality healthcare access, financial stability, social status, and race/ethnicity as a socioeconomic factor. 38 Individuals from lower SES are at a higher risk for illness susceptibility and severity. 12,13 This is especially prevalent during the current pandemic, where daily life has drastically changed, including detrimental social and financial challenges for many. Psychological stress due to restrictions on social behavior, the ability to see loved ones, and having an unstable occupation, has created outcomes such as depression, health anxiety, and financial worry. 18 Low SES can aggravate these outcomes due to the higher likelihood of risk factors such as pre-existing financial instability, lack of healthcare access, and the higher prevalence of pre-existing diseases associated with COVID-19 such as asthma, CVD, hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, and obesity. 10, 9, 19, 20 Therefore, it is essential to examine the role of SES during the COVID-19 pandemic to be better prepared to protect the most at-risk populations and find room for improvement in the