Results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have emphasized that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and mortality have consistently been higher in African-American and Hispanic patients (perhaps to a lower incidence) compared with the numbers of each minority group in states or cities in the United States.^1,2 Incidence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, or cardiovascular disease; urban living; service jobs; and access to health care services and/or adequate health insurance are all factors that come into play.^1,2

The risk is not isolated to any specific area of cardiology or medicine and extends to the catheterization laboratory. I'd like to know, for your patients receiving interventional care in your setting—state or city or county; not just a single hospital—what you perceive to be difference between the total population of African Americans compared with the incidence of COVID-19 infections in that same area.

References

1. COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website). June 4, 2020. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/racial-ethnic-minorities.html. Accessed June 17, 2020.
2. Garg S, Kim L, Whitaker M, et al. Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized With Laboratory-Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 - COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1-30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:458-64.

Clinical Topics: COVID-19 Hub, Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Noninvasive Imaging, Prevention, Interventions and Imaging, Angiography, Nuclear Imaging, Hypertension

Keywords: COVID-19, African Americans, Minority Groups, Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Diseases, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Coronavirus Infections, Insurance, Health, Hypertension, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S., Diabetes Mellitus, Coronary Angiography

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