The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the United States

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups, with high rates of death in African American, Native American, and LatinX communities. Although the mechanisms of these disparities are being investigated, they can be conceiv...

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Published in:Clinical Infectious Diseases 2020-06, Vol.72 (4), p.703-706
Main Authors: Tai, Don Bambino Geno, Shah, Aditya, Doubeni, Chyke A, Sia, Irene G, Wieland, Mark L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
COVID-19
Ethnic Groups
Health Status Disparities
Healthcare Disparities
Humans
Minority Groups
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups, with high rates of death in African American, Native American, and LatinX communities. Although the mechanisms of these disparities are being investigated, they can be conceived as arising from biomedical factors as well as social determinants of health. Minority groups are disproportionately affected by chronic medical conditions and lower access to healthcare that may portend worse COVID-19 outcomes. Furthermore, minority communities are more likely to experience living and working conditions that predispose them to worse outcomes. Underpinning these disparities are long-standing structural and societal factors that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed. Clinicians can partner with patients and communities to reduce the short-term impact of COVID-19 disparities while advocating for structural change. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States exposed racial disparities in morbidity and mortality. African Americans, LatinX, and Native Americans are disproportionately impacted by the disease due to biomedical and social factors brought by structural injustices.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1093/cid/ciaa815