Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes by Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status: A Systematic-Review and Meta-analysis

• Published in: JAMA network open Vol. 4; no. 11; p. e2134147
• Main Authors: Magesh, Shruti, John, Daniel, Li, Wei Tse, Li, Yuxiang, Mattingly-App, Aidan, Jain, Sharad, Chang, Eric Y, Ongkeko, Weg M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Medical Association 01.11.2021
• Subjects: African Americans; Asian Americans; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - ethnology; COVID-19 - mortality; Ethnicity; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Meta-analysis; Minority & ethnic groups; Online Only; Original Investigation; Outcome Assessment, Health Care - methods; Outcome Assessment, Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Race; Racial Groups - ethnology; Racial Groups - statistics & numerical data; Social Class; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic status; United States - epidemiology; United States - ethnology; United States
• ISSN: 2574-3805; 2574-3805
• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.34147

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. 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. A systematic search of PubMed, medRxiv, bioRxiv, Embase, and the World Health Organization COVID-19 databases was performed for studies published from January 1, 2020, to January 6, 2021. Studies that reported data on associations between race and ethnicity and COVID-19 positivity, disease severity, and socioeconomic status were included and screened by 2 independent reviewers. Studies that did not have a satisfactory quality score were excluded. Overall, less than 1% (0.47%) of initially identified studies met selection criteria. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Associations were assessed using adjusted and unadjusted risk ratios (RRs) and odds ratios (ORs), combined prevalence, and metaregression. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. The main measures were RRs, ORs, and combined prevalence values. A total of 4 318 929 patients from 68 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, 370 933 patients (8.6%) were African American, 9082 (0.2%) were American Indian or Alaska Native, 101 793 (2.4%) were Asian American, 851 392 identified as Hispanic/Latino (19.7%), 7417 (0.2%) were Pacific Islander, 1 037 996 (24.0%) were White, and 269 040 (6.2%) identified as multiracial and another race or ethnicity. In age- and sex-adjusted analyses, African American individuals (RR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.38-9.07; P = .008) and Hispanic individuals (RR, 4.68; 95% CI, 1.28-17.20; P = .02) were the most likely to test positive for COVID-19. Asian American individuals had the highest risk of intensive care unit admission (RR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.60-2.34, P < .001). The area deprivation index was positively correlated with mortality rates in Asian American and Hispanic individuals (P < .001). Decreased access to clinical care was positively correlated with COVID-19 positivity in Hispanic individuals (P < .001) and African American individuals (P < .001). In this study, members of racial and ethnic minority groups had higher risks of COVID-19 positivity and disease severity. Furthermore, socioeconomic determinants were strongly associated with COVID-19 outcomes in racial and ethnic minority populations.