Pre-existing conditions in Hispanics/Latinxs that are COVID-19 risk factors
Timothy S. Chang, Yi Ding, Malika Freund, Ruth Johnson, Tommer Schwarz, Julie M. Yabu, Chad Hazlett, Jeffrey N. Chiang, David A. Wulf, Anna L. Antonio, Maryam Ariannejad, Angela M. Badillo, Brunilda Balliu, Yael Berkovich, Michael Broudy, Tony Dang, Chris Denny, Eleazar Eskin, Eran Halperin, Brian L. Hill, Ankur Jain, Vivek Katakwar, Clara Lajonchere, Clara E. Magyar, Sheila Minton, Ghouse Mohammed, Ariff Muhamed, P. Pavan, Michael A. Pfeffer, Nadav Rakocz, Ákos Rudas, Rey Salonga, Timothy Sanders, Paul Tung, Vu Vu, Ailsa Zheng, Daniel H. Geschwind, Manish J. Butte, Bogdan Paşaniuc
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exposed health care disparities in minority groups including Hispanics/Latinxs (HL). Studies of COVID-19 risk factors for HL have relied on county-level data. We investigated COVID-19 risk factors in HL using individual-level, electronic health records in a Los Angeles health system between March 9, 2020, and August 31, 2020. Of 9,287 HL tested for SARS-CoV-2, 562 were positive. HL constituted an increasing percentage of all COVID-19 positive individuals as disease severity escalated. Multiple risk factors identified in Non-Hispanic/Latinx whites (NHL-W), like renal disease, also conveyed risk in HL. Pre-existing nonrheumatic mitral valve disorder was a risk factor for HL hospitalization but not for NHL-W COVID-19 or HL influenza hospitalization, suggesting it may be a specific HL COVID-19 risk. Admission laboratory values also suggested that HL presented with a greater inflammatory response. COVID-19 risk factors for HL can help guide equitable government policies and identify at-risk populations.