Association of Social Vulnerability and COVID-19 Mortality Rates in Texas between 15 March 2020, and 21 July 2022: An Ecological Analysis

Authors

Dennis Ogeto Nyachoti
Nalini Ranjit
Ryan Ramphul
Leah D Whigham
Andrew E Springer

Language

English

Publication Date

10-27-2023

Journal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI

10.3390/ijerph20216985

PMID

37947543

PMCID

PMC10647229

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

10-27-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the key role of social vulnerability such as economic disadvantage in health outcomes, research is limited on the impact of social vulnerabilities on COVID-19-related deaths, especially at the state and county level in the USA.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional ecologic analysis of COVID-19 mortality by the county-level Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index (MH SVI) and each of its components in Texas. Negative binomial regression (NBR) analyses were used to estimate the association between the composite MH SVI (and its components) and COVID-19 mortality.

RESULTS: A 0.1-unit increase in the overall MH SVI (IRR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.04-1.55;

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence of disparities in COVID-19 mortality by social vulnerability and can inform decisions on the allocation of social resources and services as a strategy for reducing COVID-19 mortality rates and similar pandemics in the future.

Keywords

Humans, Social Vulnerability, Texas, COVID-19, Cross-Sectional Studies, Health Status, OVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus 2019, pandemics, SVI, MH SVI, minority health

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Nyachoti, Dennis Ogeto; Ranjit, Nalini; Ramphul, Ryan; et al., "Association of Social Vulnerability and COVID-19 Mortality Rates in Texas between 15 March 2020, and 21 July 2022: An Ecological Analysis" (2023). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 849.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthsph_docs/849