Analysis of COVID-19 Case Demographics in Gary, Indiana

Authors

  • Yazan Al-Tarshan Indiana University School of Medicine-Gary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2996-321X
  • Maryam Sabir Indiana University School of Medicine-Gary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5415-8917
  • Cameron Snapp Indiana University School of Medicine-Gary
  • Martin Brown Gary Health Department and Gary Sanitary District
  • Roland Walker Gary Health Department and Gary Sanitary District
  • Amy Han, PhD Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine-Gary
  • Tatiana Kostrominova Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Gary

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18060/25841

Abstract

Background and Hypothesis 

It has been reported in several recent studies that health disparities associated with COVID-19 infection r are prevalent in Black and impoverished populations. The contribution of multiple causes to these disparities is still not completely elucidated. Gary, Indiana has a large Black population (80%), high number of residents living below the poverty line (34%), and high unemployment rate (20%). We hypothesized that Black individuals in Gary have a higher rate of positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths than non-Black individuals. Also, we hypothesized that (median household income measured by the zip code) is negatively correlated with COVID-19 positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.  

 

Methods 

In collaboration with the Gary Health Department, we analyzed data on all positive cases in the city from 06/16/2020 through 06/07/2021(totally 5149 cases). We compared this data to the data from 03/16/2020 through 06/16/2020 (totally 724 cases) that we analyzed previously. Data was de-identified and included age, race, ethnicity, and zip code.  The data was analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test and regression analysis. 

 

Results  

When compared to the non-Black population in Gary age and population-adjusted rates of hospitalizations and deaths in the Black population are 3-fold (p<9.385E-11) and 2-fold (p<0.0171) higher, respectively. Surprisingly, the non-Black population had a higher infection rate than the Black population (p<2.69E-09). Median household income of a zip code is negatively correlated with COVID-19 hospitalizations in that zip code (R2=0.6345, p=0.03), but is does not affect the .rates of infections and deaths.  

 

Conclusion  

Our data show that in Gary, there is a clear health disparity of both income and race, specifically in the context of COVID-19. IUSMNW and Gary health officials can collaborate and utilize this data to reallocate resources to the highly populated, low income, and predominantly Black neighborhoods.  

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Published

2021-12-10

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Abstracts

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Yazan Al-Tarshan, Maryam Sabir, Cameron Snapp, Martin Brown, Roland Walker, Amy Han, PhD, Tatiana Kostrominova

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.