September 23, 2020

Patterns of COVID-19 Testing and Mortality by Race and Ethnicity among United States Veterans: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): public health

• A nationwide sample collected from February to July, 2020 showed that US veterans who were Black or Hispanic were more likely to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 than white veterans (Black: 60%, Hispanic: 53%, white 39%), and more likely to test positive (Black vs white: OR=1.9; Hispanic vs white: OR=1.8). The disparity between Black and white individuals in testing positive for COVID-19 was stronger in the Midwest (OR=2.7) than the West (OR=1.2). The disparity in testing positive for COVID-19 between Hispanic and white individuals was consistent across region, calendar time, and outbreak pattern.

Rentsch et al. (Sept 22, 2020). Patterns of COVID-19 Testing and Mortality by Race and Ethnicity among United States Veterans: A Nationwide Cohort Study. PLoS Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003379