Pulling at the heart: COVID-19, race/ethnicity and ongoing disparities

Nat Rev Cardiol. 2020 Sep;17(9):533-535. doi: 10.1038/s41569-020-0416-6.

Abstract

Social determinants of health in the African diaspora drive the lack of disease testing, increased prevalence of comorbid disease and reduced access to drugs, resulting in disproportionately higher COVID-19-related mortality among Black individuals than the rest of the population. We urge decisive attention to and action against ethnicity-based inequities that undermine cardiovascular health.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / supply & distribution
  • Betacoronavirus
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data
  • COVID-19
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Coronavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / ethnology
  • Health Services Accessibility / standards
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Healthcare Disparities / ethnology*
  • Humans
  • Mortality
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / ethnology
  • Prevalence
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents