While in-hospital mortality may be equitable, the overall death rate per capita told a different story. The parity in hospital wards highlights that the true "impact" of race occurs upstream. Factors such as higher rates of pre-existing conditions (diabetes, hypertension) and delayed presentation to the ER due to lack of insurance often meant that minority patients arrived in more critical condition. Therefore, while the survival rate once admitted may have been similar, the likelihood of dying from COVID remained higher for people of color because they were more likely to become severely ill.
The Equalizer? Race and Survival in the COVID-19 Hospital Ward Race Doesn’t Impact COVID Survival Rate in Hosp...
An essay exploring the research around racial disparities in COVID-19 hospital outcomes follows. While in-hospital mortality may be equitable, the overall