The great unequalizer: initial health effects of COVID-19 in the United States
Working Paper Series National Bureau of Economic Research
; 2021.
Article
in English
| GIM | ID: covidwho-1760219
ABSTRACT
We measure inequities from the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality and hospitalizations in the United States during the early months of the outbreak. We discuss challenges in measuring health outcomes and health inequality, some of which are specific to COVID-19 and others that complicate attribution during most large health shocks. As in past epidemics, pre-existing biological and social vulnerabilities profoundly influenced the distribution of disease. In addition to the elderly, Hispanic, Black and Native American communities were disproportionately affected by the virus, particularly when assessed using the years of potential life lost metric. For example, Hispanic and Black Americans in 2020 saw 39.5 and 25 percent increases in excess mortality relative to trend, compared to a less than 15 percent increase for Whites;we find losses in potential years of life three to four times larger among Hispanic and Black compared to White Americans. Individual-level data from a commercially insured population show that otherwise similar Black and Hispanic enrollees were hospitalized due to COVID-19 at a higher rate than White enrollees. We provide a conceptual framework and initial empirical analysis which seek to shed light on contributors to pandemic-related health inequality, and suggest areas for future research.
human diseases; public health; coronavirus disease 2019; viral diseases; ethnic groups; ethnicity; Hispanics; black people; disease distribution; epidemiology; pandemics; communities; community health; white people; man; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; USA; Homo; Hominidae; primates; mammals; vertebrates; Chordata; animals; eukaryotes; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirinae; Coronaviridae; Nidovirales; positive-sense ssRNA Viruses; ssRNA Viruses; RNA Viruses; viruses; APEC countries; high income countries; North America; America; OECD Countries; very high Human Development Index countries; SARS-CoV-2; viral infections; United States of America; ethnic differences
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
GIM
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Language:
English
Journal:
Working Paper Series National Bureau of Economic Research
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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