The Structural and Social Determinants of the Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the U.S. COVID-19 Pandemic. What's Our Role?

• Published in: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2020-10, Vol.202 (7), p.943-949
• Main Authors: Thakur, Neeta, Lovinsky-Desir, Stephanie, Bime, Christian, Wisnivesky, Juan P, Celedón, Juan C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: COVID-19; Mortality; Pandemics; Pulmonary
• ISSN: 1073-449X; 1535-4970; 1535-4970
• DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202005-1523PP

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has crippled the United States, halting normal social and economic activities and overstretching the health system. As of June 12, 2020, the United States had over 2 million cases and 113,900 deaths. For historically disadvantaged populations, who experience fractured access to health care under standard conditions and who are more dependent on low-wage or hourly paid employment, the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact. Nearly 30% of COVID-19 cases occurred in Black Americans, who constitute only 13% of the U S population. This pattern continues to be observed at the state level across states reporting the highest mortality from COVID-19 and is paralleled by geographic patterns, with several areas reporting prevalence gaps of >20%. This disparity is equally striking across some American cities. In Chicago, Black people represent 30% of the population but account for 45% of the deaths from COVID-19.