Impact of COVID-19 on People of Color

by | Jul 22, 2021 | Coronavirus, COVID-19, FDA, Human Factors, Vaccine

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, people of color were bearing the brunt of the virus. African Americans specifically were more likely to fall ill with the virus, get hospitalized, and die than White patients.

In total, more than 600,000 individuals have died due to the pandemic. Over 178 million worldwide have had some complications with COVID-19. According to a recent study published by JAMA Network Open, researchers aimed to examine the role hospitals had that influenced patient deaths, specifically looking at people of color.

The study analyzed more than 44,000 Medicare Advantage patients with COVID-19 to more than 1,180 hospitals across 41 states. The researchers found that African American patients who were admitted to a hospital with COVID-19 are 11% more likely to die than their White counterparts. This statistic was found after adjusting for patient and clinical characteristics.

The study also ran simulations and found that if those same patients were admitted to the same hospitals as their White counterparts, their health outcomes would be relatively equal.

The virus arrived in the US at a time of social and racial reform, an issue the medical field has been struggling with for years. The pandemic illustrated the inequalities and inequities in the United States that people of color were more likely to have long-standing complications and die due to COVID than their White counterparts.  

The study demonstrates that where individuals live and work influences where they receive medical care; many individuals tend to seek care closer to their homes. For many years, people of color were denied housing and care in certain areas due to redlining, which was meant to keep out certain races out of neighborhoods. Redlining led to segregation in cities and unequal access to resources, like hospitals and jobs.

The researchers mentioned that this study further illustrates the unequal policies that continue in the United States. These policies point towards issues like housing, job security, and insurance, that leave people of color with unequal access to resources, opportunities, health care, and housing. 1

EMMA International has been staying on top of all the breaking COVID-19 news. Contact us at 248-987-4497 or email info@emmainternational.com to get connected with our team of experts today!

1 Liss, S. (2021, June 21). Black patients were more likely to die of COVID-19 largely due to inferior hospitals. MedTech Dive. https://www.medtechdive.com/news/black-patients-more-likely-die-of-covid-19-inferior-hospitals-JAMA/602147/

Abby McVay

Abby McVay

Research Analyst- Ms. McVay is EMMA International’s Research Analyst. She has experience in technical writing and clinical trials in many life science industries. She has experience with many different elements of quality and regulatory compliance. Ms. McVay holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Manchester University as well as a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Angelo State University.

More Resources

Establishing a Culture of Compliance

Establishing a Culture of Compliance

While having robust compliance policies and procedures in place is essential for meeting regulatory requirements, it's equally important to establish a culture of compliance within your organization.  A culture of compliance means that every employee understands the importance of compliance and is committed to upholding it in all their work. Here are some tips for establishing a culture of compliance...
Change Management And Control

Change Management And Control

One of the biggest and most important aspects of quality management is a system to monitor changes and how they impact the product. Change management is an approach for changing processes or products in a way which adheres to regulatory standards by ensuring stability and consistency throughout processes. It applies across all changes within a process and throughout an entire products life cycle.
Aseptic Technique and Gowning

Aseptic Technique and Gowning

One of the most common techniques to prevent contamination of products and reduce quality impacts in the pharmaceutical industry is called aseptic gowning. Humans are the biggest sources of microbial contamination in cleanroom environments and therefore proper gowning procedures are essential to ensuring product quality. Proper training, education, hygiene, qualification, and authorization must be put in place and be required for entry to all clean room environments...

Ready to learn more about working with us?

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This