Epidemiology of COVID-19 Hospitalizations in New Haven and Middlesex Counties, Connecticut, July - September 2021

Document Type

Thesis

Summary Description

The study investigates COVID-19 hospitalization rates in New Haven and Middlesex Counties from July to September 2021, focusing on racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities. It finds that Black and Hispanic individuals were more likely to be hospitalized compared to White individuals, with these disparities persisting despite socioeconomic factors. The study concludes that lower vaccination rates among racial minorities, influenced by factors such as medical mistrust and reduced access to healthcare resources, contribute significantly to these disparities.

Abstract

Background. This thesis explores the epidemiology of COVID-19 hospitalization among residents of New Haven County and Middlesex County, Connecticut from July - September 2021 with an emphasis on quantifying racial/ethnic and SES disparities. Two previous studies, the first conducted from March - May 2020 and the second conducted from July - December 2020, used COVID-NET Surveillance data from New Haven and Middlesex counties to explore the same questions. This thesis will compare findings with these previous studies to better understand how the epidemiology of COVID-19 hospitalization and racial/ethnic and SES disparities have changed in New Haven and Middlesex counties. Methods. Addresses of patients hospitalized with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2, gathered by COVID-NET Surveillance, were geocoded and individuals were identified as either community- dwelling or institutionalized. Census tract measures of poverty and crowding were found for all community dwelling cases. Age adjusted incidence rates and age adjusted relative risks were calculated to determine the level of risk associated with race/ethnicity and census tract levels of poverty and crowding. Results. An individual’s Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity was more strongly associated with hospitalization for COVID-19 than the levels of poverty or crowding in their census tract. Racial and ethnic disparities had declined since the March 2020 - May 2020 time period but increased for non-Hispanic Blacks compared to the July 2020 - December 2020 time period. Conclusion. Racial/ethnic disparities in hospitalization have fluctuated in magnitude but have persisted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Decreased racial/ethnic disparities compared to the March 2020 - May 2020 time period may reflect the increased diversity of individuals working out of the home post- lockdown. An increase in hospitalization of non-Hispanic Black individuals when compared to White individuals may be explained by decreased access to and acceptability of vaccination.

Category Tags

Healthcare; Disease; Racial Justice and Racism

New Haven Neighborhood

New Haven (All)

Supporting Teacher/Faculty Member

Dr. Jim Hadler

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