COVID-19 is also a Hispanic problem in NC
During the last couple of weeks, it has become increasingly clear that Hispanic patients are dying at higher death rates than many other groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the state of New York for example, death rates among Hispanic people are substantially higher than that of white people.
Two of the states with the largest outbreaks and death rates, New York and California, have disproportionately large Hispanic populations - nearly 40 percent in the case of California and 19 percent in New York. Nevertheless, that doesn’t account for the unequal death toll.
In Durham County, North Carolina, where I work, Hispanic people are 13.4 percent of the population. Yet in May, they comprised 67 percent of confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Likely contributing factors include other medical conditions, poverty levels, work circumstances, and access to health care. Although this may be news for many in our country, it is not news to those of us who work with this population on a regular basis.
Even before the pandemic began, minorities in this country were disproportionately affected by chronic medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Hispanic patients, in particular, are significantly impacted by diabetes. And many Hispanic patients live in poverty and have less access to high-quality health care.
Many health care organizations have moved to telehealth, which further highlights the disparities in access to quality care. Although telehealth is an amazing resource, Hispanic patients are struggling to access this resource. Some lack health insurance or access to health care institutions that offer telehealth. Others lack access to the technology and have limited ability to speak with English-speaking providers.
The COVID-19 pandemic also has had has a major impact on the Hispanic economy. Data show that Hispanics are disproportionately affected by job losses due to coronavirus. In a recently published Pew Research Center report, approximately 49% of Hispanics reported that they or someone in their household has taken a pay cut or lost their job during the pandemic. That compares with 33% of all U.S. adults.
Hispanics often work in jobs that pay minimum wage and lack benefits such as health care and paid sick leave, including cooking take-out food and delivering groceries. However, Hispanics, myself included, also work in the front lines treating and caring for sick patients, working overtime to find a cure and improve the treatment of this virus. Now those jobs are putting Hispanics on the front lines, and many are dying.
Lessening the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Hispanic population should be a national priority. The terrible costs of pandemic should encourage us to identify ways to decrease the health disparities and poverty that minorities face in this country.
It is no longer enough for some of us to work towards finding solutions; this should be the responsibility of all members of our society, including those in government and health care and ordinary citizens.
It starts with recognizing the inequalities that this public health crisis has highlighted.
Leonor Corsino, MD, MHS is an associate professor of endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition at the Duke University School of Medicine.
