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Who's at Risk

COVID-19: Who's at High Risk 

    
    As of May 2020, the coronavirus has taken the lives of over 76,000 individuals in the United States. You may be wondering what the chances are of you or a loved one contracting the virus and getting hospitalized. On April 17, 2020, the CDC, Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, began to release weekly reports of COVID-19 demographics across the U.S. Their reports, which tell us who's most at risk for the coronavirus, highlight four main categories: Age, Gender, Race and Underlying Conditions.


Age

    The CDC reports show that as age increases, so does the rate of COVID-19 associated hospitalization. Age groups 5-17 years have the lowest hospitalization rate with a rate of 0.1%. The rates were the highest in age groups > 65 years with a rate of 13.8%. Out of those aged > 65 years, age groups > 85 years had the highest hospitalization rate of 17.2. 

Garg, Shika. “Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized with Laboratory-Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 - COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1–30, 2020.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Apr. 2020, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6915e3.htm.

Reports of Hospitalization Rates of Age Groups by Week

Gender

    According to the CDC reports from March 1-30, 2020, over half of COVID-19 hospitalizations (54.4%) occurred among men. In general, coronavirus associated rates were higher among males than females. The reason why males have higher rates of COVID-19 related hospitalization is not yet clear and is still being investigated by scientists.
  

Ethnicity

    Races with the highest amount of reported coronavirus related hospitalization include Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic. Whites/Caucasians had the highest percent of hospitalization of 45%. African Americans had the second highest hospitalization percentage of 33% despite making up 18% of the country. Hispanics, which make up 14% of the county, had a hospitalization percentage of 8%. This data shows that although African Americans make up less than 20% of the population, their hospitalization rates are the second highest in the country, making their race the most susceptible to the coronavirus. 

    Although reasons for higher hospitalization rates in Non-Hispanic Black populations are not clear, one can suspect that it could be related to the population's higher incidences of underlying medical conditions due to genetic traits and lifestyle. Minority groups such as Non-Hispanic blacks are also more subject to poverty. Dr. Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases states that "Health disparities have always existed for African American communities..." Other reports indicate that these minority communities are more likely to live in neighborhoods with lack of healthy food options and recreational facilities. Blacks are also less likely to have equitable healthcare and make up most of the 'essential' COVID-19 workforce as food service workers, cashiers and bus drivers. The increase of hospitalization rates within the Black  community is not because they don't take care of themselves but because they are not provided with adequate healthcare and resources in their neighborhoods. 

Garg, Shika. “Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized with Laboratory-Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 - COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1–30, 2020.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Apr. 2020, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6915e3.htm.

Underlying Conditions

    The CDC reports show that 89% of people hospitalized from the coronavirus had an underlying condition. Across all age groups, the most common underlying conditions were hypertension, with an overall prevalence of 50%, and obesity, with an overall prevalence of 48%. In comparison to other age groups, ages 18-49 had the lowest percentage of hypertension at 17.5% but the highest percentage obesity at 59%. 

Table modified by Sarah Wu from: Garg, Shika. “Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized with Laboratory-Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 - COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1–30, 2020.” 

Summary

    With this new data in mind, it is important that we protect those at high risk for COVID-19. Although children, teenagers, and young adults have a lower chance of hospitalization due to the coronavirus, it is important that they follow social distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines to protect the elderly and African American communities who are at high risk. You might not be someone who's at high risk for the virus but it's important to remember to care for those who are by respecting social distancing regulations and wearing a face mask.


Sources

1. Garg, Shika. “Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized with Laboratory-Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 - COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1–30, 2020.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Apr. 2020, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6915e3.htm.
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