Two studies published today describe COVID-19 racial disparities among black and Hispanic patients in New York City and Denver that may be related to living and working conditions and other factors such as insurance status.Rates of infection, severe illnessThe first study, published in JAMA Network Open, involved 4,843 patients tested for coronavirus from Mar 1 to Apr 8 at New York University Langone Health System.
Of the 2,623 patients hospitalized (54.2%), 1,047 (39.9%) were white, 375(14.3%) were black, 715 (27.3%) were Hispanic, 180 (6.9%) were Asian, and 207 (7.9%) identified as multiracial/other.
In fully adjusted models, black and Hispanic patients were 30% to 50% more likely than whites to test positive for COVID-19 (black odds