COVID-19 Medical Vulnerability Indicators: A Predictive, Local Data Model for Equity in Public Health Decision Making

Abstract

This article reports the outcome of a project to develop and assess a predictive model of vulnerability indicators for COVID-19 infection in Los Angeles County. Multiple data sources were used to construct four indicators for zip code tabulation areas: (1) pre-existing health condition, (2) barriers to accessing health care, (3) built environment risk, and (4) the CDC’s social vulnerability. The assessment of the indicators finds that the most vulnerable neighborhoods are characterized by significant clustering of racial minorities. An overwhelming 73% of Blacks reside in the neighborhoods with the two highest levels of pre-existing health conditions. For the barriers to accessing health care indicator, 40% of Latinx reside in the highest vulnerability places. The built environment indicator finds that selected Asian ethnic groups (63%), Latinx (55%), and Blacks (53%) reside in the neighborhoods designated as high or the highest vulnerability. The social vulnerability indicator finds 42% of Blacks and Latinx and 38% of selected Asian ethnic group residing in neighborhoods of high vulnerability. The vulnerability indicators can be adopted nationally to respond to COVID-19. The metrics can be utilized in data-driven decision making of re-openings or resource distribution such as testing, vaccine distribution and other pandemic-related resources to ensure equity for the most vulnerable.

Research on Health Disparities Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…The analysis of the features and factors of health disparities during the pandemic is important for the effective implementation of health care regulatory policy and allocation of public health resources. For example, COVID-19 medical vulnerability indicators have been proposed for use in public resource allocation to guarantee more equitable access to health care resources in infection-prone areas [31]. Egede et al (2020) proposed a six-pronged approach to addressing structural racism that exacerbates health disparities [62].…”

“…The studies in this category were dedicated to discussing how health authorities around the world can eliminate disparity and achieve equity at all stages of the fight against COVID-19 and thus propose effective public health policies [30]. For example, COVID-19 Medical Vulnerability Indicators have been proposed for use in public resource allocation in order to guarantee more equitable access to health care resources in infection-prone areas [31]. In addition, public regulatory policies may increase health disparities by themselves [32].…”

Pre-Pandemic Adversity Buffers the Role of Social Loneliness in Caregiver Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Families in the high neighborhood risk, higher strengths profile, however, do show significantly greater increases in depressive feelings, stress, and the impact of stress compared to families in the low risk, high strengths profile. This suggests that although these families demonstrated high resilience prior to the pandemic, their previous and likely ongoing experiences of neighborhood Int J Public Health | Owned by SSPH+ | Published by Frontiers adversity increased their likelihood of poor mental health during the pandemic, highlighting the need for communities to continue directing resources and mental health services to high-need neighborhoods [26].…”

Socioeconomic-Related Inequalities in COVID-19 Vulnerability in South Africa

“…We measured COVID-19 vulnerability using living conditions indicators likely to affect South African families’ ability to implement NPIs and indicators of pre-existing health risk factors. A similar approach has been used in the context of the United States [ 23 ]. The few existing studies on COVID-19 vulnerability in South Africa did not investigate SES-related inequalities [ 1 , 9 ].…”