Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Importance
Non-Hispanic Black individuals experience a higher burden of COVID-19 than the general population; hence, there is an urgent need to characterize the unique clinical course and outcomes of COVID-19 in Black patients with cancer.Objective
To investigate racial disparities in severity of COVID-19 presentation, clinical complications, and outcomes between Black patients and non-Hispanic White patients with cancer and COVID-19.Design, setting, and participants
This retrospective cohort study used data from the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium registry from March 17, 2020, to November 18, 2020, to examine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in Black patients with cancer. Data analysis was performed from December 2020 to February 2021.Exposures
Black and White race recorded in patient's electronic health record.Main outcomes and measures
An a priori 5-level ordinal scale including hospitalization intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and all-cause death.Results
Among 3506 included patients (1768 women [50%]; median [IQR] age, 67 [58-77] years), 1068 (30%) were Black and 2438 (70%) were White. Black patients had higher rates of preexisting comorbidities compared with White patients, including obesity (480 Black patients [45%] vs 925 White patients [38%]), diabetes (411 Black patients [38%] vs 574 White patients [24%]), and kidney disease (248 Black patients [23%] vs 392 White patients [16%]). Despite the similar distribution of cancer type, cancer status, and anticancer therapy at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, Black patients presented with worse illness and had significantly worse COVID-19 severity (unweighted odds ratio, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.15-1.58]; weighted odds ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.11-1.33]).Conclusions and relevance
These findings suggest that Black patients with cancer experience worse COVID-19 outcomes compared with White patients. Understanding and addressing racial inequities within the causal framework of structural racism is essential to reduce the disproportionate burden of diseases, such as COVID-19 and cancer, in Black patients.
SUBMITTER: Fu J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8961318 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Fu Julie J Reid Sonya A SA French Benjamin B Hennessy Cassandra C Hwang Clara C Gatson Na Tosha NT Duma Narjust N Mishra Sanjay S Nguyen Ryan R Hawley Jessica E JE Singh Sunny R K SRK Chism David D DD Venepalli Neeta K NK Warner Jeremy L JL Choueiri Toni K TK Schmidt Andrew L AL Fecher Leslie A LA Girard Jennifer E JE Bilen Mehmet A MA Ravindranathan Deepak D Goyal Sharad S Wise-Draper Trisha M TM Park Cathleen C Painter Corrie A CA McGlown Sheila M SM de Lima Lopes Gilberto G Serrano Oscar K OK Shah Dimpy P DP
JAMA network open 20220301 3
<h4>Importance</h4>Non-Hispanic Black individuals experience a higher burden of COVID-19 than the general population; hence, there is an urgent need to characterize the unique clinical course and outcomes of COVID-19 in Black patients with cancer.<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate racial disparities in severity of COVID-19 presentation, clinical complications, and outcomes between Black patients and non-Hispanic White patients with cancer and COVID-19.<h4>Design, setting, and participants</h4>This ...[more]