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Identification of Vulnerable Populations and Areas at Higher Risk of COVID-19-Related Mortality during the Early Stage of the Epidemic in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Esteban Correa-Agudelo

    (Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
    Health Geography and Disease Modeling Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA)

  • Tesfaye B. Mersha

    (Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA)

  • Adam J. Branscum

    (Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA)

  • Neil J. MacKinnon

    (Geospatial Health Advising Group, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
    Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA)

  • Diego F. Cuadros

    (Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
    Health Geography and Disease Modeling Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
    Geospatial Health Advising Group, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA)

Abstract

We characterized vulnerable populations located in areas at higher risk of COVID-19-related mortality and low critical healthcare capacity during the early stage of the epidemic in the United States. We analyze data obtained from a Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 database to assess the county-level spatial variation of COVID-19-related mortality risk during the early stage of the epidemic in relation to health determinants and health infrastructure. Overall, we identified highly populated and polluted areas, regional air hub areas, race minorities (non-white population), and Hispanic or Latino population with an increased risk of COVID-19-related death during the first phase of the epidemic. The 10 highest COVID-19 mortality risk areas in highly populated counties had on average a lower proportion of white population (48.0%) and higher proportions of black population (18.7%) and other races (33.3%) compared to the national averages of 83.0%, 9.1%, and 7.9%, respectively. The Hispanic and Latino population proportion was higher in these 10 counties (29.3%, compared to the national average of 9.3%). Counties with major air hubs had a 31% increase in mortality risk compared to counties with no airport connectivity. Sixty-eight percent of the counties with high COVID-19-related mortality risk also had lower critical care capacity than the national average. The disparity in health and environmental risk factors might have exacerbated the COVID-19-related mortality risk in vulnerable groups during the early stage of the epidemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Esteban Correa-Agudelo & Tesfaye B. Mersha & Adam J. Branscum & Neil J. MacKinnon & Diego F. Cuadros, 2021. "Identification of Vulnerable Populations and Areas at Higher Risk of COVID-19-Related Mortality during the Early Stage of the Epidemic in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4021-:d:534248
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julian Besag & Jeremy York & Annie Mollié, 1991. "Bayesian image restoration, with two applications in spatial statistics," Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Springer;The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, vol. 43(1), pages 1-20, March.
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    1. Peter Congdon, 2021. "COVID-19 Mortality in English Neighborhoods: The Relative Role of Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors," J, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Giuseppe Alessio Platania & Simone Varrasi & Claudia Savia Guerrera & Francesco Maria Boccaccio & Vittoria Torre & Venera Francesca Vezzosi & Concetta Pirrone & Sabrina Castellano, 2024. "Impact of Stress during COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: A Study on Dispositional and Behavioral Dimensions for Supporting Evidence-Based Targeted Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-15, March.

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