The following are key points to remember from a systematic review on racial and ethnic disparities in coronavirus disease (COVID-19)–related infections:

1. Available data suggest that the effects of COVID-19 differ among US racial/ethnic groups.
2. Thirty-seven mostly fair-quality cohort and cross-sectional studies, 15 mostly good-quality ecological studies, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and APM Research Lab were included to evaluate racial/ethnic disparities in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection rates and COVID-19 outcomes, factors contributing to disparities, and interventions to reduce them.
3. African American/Black populations experience disproportionately higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization, and COVID-19–related mortality compared with non-Hispanic White populations, but not higher case-fatality rates (mostly reported as in-hospital mortality).
4. Hispanic populations experience disproportionately higher infection rates and excess mortality due to COVID-19, but not higher case-fatality rates.
5. In addition, African American/Black and Hispanic populations have an increased risk for hospitalization due to COVID-19.
6. Asian populations appear to have similar rates of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths as White populations (low strength of evidence).
7. American Indian, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander populations experience excess mortality due to COVID-19 (low strength of evidence).
8. It appears that observed disparities are more likely to be due to exposure-related factors than susceptibility (that is, comorbid conditions) (low strength of evidence).
9. Additional studies are indicated to confirm these finding and evaluate the effects of health care access and exposure-related factors, such as population density.
10. Identifying health disparities is the first step in disparities research, followed by identifying which factors are driving disparities, and designing and testing interventions to mitigate them.

Clinical Topics: COVID-19 Hub, Prevention

Keywords: African Americans, Coronavirus Infections, COVID-19, Ethnic Groups, European Continental Ancestry Group, Healthcare Disparities, Hispanic Americans, Hospital Mortality, Indians, North American, Population Density, Primary Prevention, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

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