MORTALITY IN LATINOS WITH COVID-19, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Background The impact of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 to the cardiometabolic system is currently under investigation. Miami is mainly comprised of Latinos, a population in which Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been poorly described compared to other ethnicities and races. We aim to describe socio-demographic characteristics and mortality rates in COVID-19 patients at University of Miami Hospital (UMH). Methods This is a descriptive and retrospective study. We included adult patients (18 years old or older) who visited the emergency room or were admitted at UMH, diagnosed with COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction test since the beginning of the pandemic until October 2020. We used the electronic medical record diagnosis to define patients’ comorbidities. We report age-adjusted mortality using directly standardized rates, with p-values and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results We identified 1393 patients, 58.6 (±18.9) years old and 50.8% males. Latinos, non-Hispanic Blacks (referred to as Blacks) and non-Hispanic Whites (referred to as Whites) comprised 67.8%, 20.4% and 11.8%, respectively. In general, Latinos had significantly higher prevalence (p <0.05) of hypertension (55.9%), diabetes mellitus (30.5%) and chronic kidney disease (16.4%) compared to Whites, but lower than Blacks. In males, the age-adjusted mortality rate in Latinos (12.7%, 95% CI [10.2-15.2]) was significantly higher than Blacks (9.7%, 95% CI [7.5-11.9]) but lower than Whites (18.3%, 95% CI [15.5-21.2]). In females, the age-adjusted mortality rate in Latinos (8.7%, 95% CI [6.6-10.8]) was higher but non-significant compared to Whites (6.9%, 95% CI [5.0-8.8]) but lower than Blacks (9.5%, 95% CI [7.3-11.7]). Conclusion Among patients with COVID-19, Latinos had worse comorbidities than Whites. However, the age-adjusted mortality of male Latinos was significantly lower than Whites. In females, age-adjusted mortality in Latinos was higher, but not significant when compared to Whites.