Age-Based Disparities in Hospitalizations and Mortality for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Purpose

Evidence suggests that older adults, racial/ethnic minorities, and those with comorbidities all face elevated risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19; but there are limited reports describing the potential for interactions between these factors.

Methods

We sought to evaluate age-based heterogeneity in observed disparities in hospitalization, ICU admission, and mortality related to COVID-19 using CDC public use surveillance data on 3,662,325 COVID-19 cases reported from January 1 to August 30, 2020.

Results

Racial/ethnic and comorbidity disparities in hospitalization were most pronounced during ages 20-29 and ages 10-19, with similar elevation seen for disparities in ICU risk.

Racial/ethnic disparities in mortality were most pronounced during ages 20-29 while risk from comorbidity peaks among ages 10-39.

Conclusions

As COVID-19 continues to affect younger populations, special attention to the implications for the most vulnerable subgroups are clearly warranted.

Implications and Contribution

Adolescents and young adults appear to have experienced the greatest inequities in COVID-19 outcomes by race/ethnicity and comorbidity. Careful monitoring of trends in this population is warranted as they re-enter school, work, and social settings while being the last group to receive priority for vaccination.