Race/Socioeconomic Status and COVID-19: A Narrative Review

Authors

Olubunmi Oladunjoye, Baylor College of MedicineFollow
Akinwale Akingbule, Ozark Valley Medical ClinicFollow
Adebola Omogunwa, 3Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TXFollow
Logan Lawson, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Anthony Donato, Reading Hospital - Tower HealthFollow

Author Credentials

Olubunmi Oladunjoye, MD MPH

Akinwale Akingbule, MD MSc

Adebola Omogunwa, MD

Logan Lawson, MD

Anthony Donato, MD, MHPE, MACP

Author ORCID Identifier

Olubunmi Oladunjoye 0000-0002-2749-6099

Anthony Donato: 0000-0002-8294-6769

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 infection has resulted in more than 620 million infections and 6.6 million deaths. Since the pandemic, many articles have been published on socioeconomic and racial disparities in COVID-19 infection and its outcomes. This article aims to review the impact of race and socioeconomic status on COVID-19 infection and vice versa.

Findings: Most studies showed an increase in COVID infections and hospitalizations in communities of color, with some showing higher mortality rates while others did not. Social determinants, including insurance and care access, food security, housing security appear to have worsened over the same period for these communities. Our review also showed social determinants accentuated morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 infections and the pandemic also made the disparities in social determinants of health more pronounced.

Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors are associated with poorer health outcomes, and these were exacerbated during the COVID pandemic. Many of these social determinants of health are believed to be modifiable. More research is needed to identify interventions that can positively impact social determinants and have downstream effects on health.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Recommended Citation

Oladunjoye O, Akingbule A, Omogunwa A, Lawson L, Donato A. Race/Socioeconomic Status and COVID-19: A Narrative Review. Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery. 2023; 3(4). doi: 10.53785/2769-2779.1161.

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