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Quadri NS, Martins SL, Sidebottom A, Mohamed S, Ha N, Nguyen D, Patel L, Kethireddy R. Association of Language Preference with Therapeutic Care for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-02065-2. [PMID: 38951369 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-02065-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is a paucity of research investigating disparities in utilization of inpatient therapeutics for COVID-19 by language preference. The primary aim of this study was to assess if the likelihood of treatment with novel COVID-19 therapies differed for patients using a language other than English (LOE) relative to English-speaking patients. METHODS This was a retrospective observational cohort study of COVID-19 patients hospitalized between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, across 11 hospitals within a single not-for-profit health system. Multivariable relative risks were estimated for the impact of preferred language on the receipt of novel COVID-19 therapies: baricitinib, remdesivir, tocilizumab, and convalescent plasma. RESULTS This study included 12,510 hospitalized adults with English as the most common preferred language (92.3%) followed by Spanish (3.1%), Somali (1.3%), Russian (0.9%), and Hmong (0.6%). Spanish speakers were more likely to receive any of the novel COVID-19 therapies compared to English speakers (RR 1.45; CI 1.32-1.59). Estimates for Hmong, Somali, Russian, and Other language groups were not statistically significant and closer to the null (aRR range, 0.89-1.12). CONCLUSION Linguistic patterns in health outcomes expose inherent heterogeneity within racial and ethnic groups. Our study found that Spanish speakers were nearly 1.5 times more likely to receive any of the four novel inpatient COVID-19 therapeutics in comparison to English speakers. Future research is needed to explore the reasons for the heterogeneous findings including temporal influence, cultural factors, informed consent comprehension, and therapeutic hesitancy in all groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen S Quadri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Health, 800 East 28thSt, Mail Route 11135, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, USA.
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, Migrants, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | | | | | - Samira Mohamed
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, Migrants, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ngoc Ha
- Care Delivery Research, Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Duc Nguyen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Health, 800 East 28thSt, Mail Route 11135, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, USA
| | - Love Patel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Health, 800 East 28thSt, Mail Route 11135, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, USA
| | - Rajesh Kethireddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Allina Health, 800 East 28thSt, Mail Route 11135, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, USA
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Chesley CF, Lane-Fall MB. Prioritizing Equity When Resources are Scarce: Innovating Solutions During the COVID Pandemic. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 206:377-378. [PMID: 35580062 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202204-0830ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher F Chesley
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 14640, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - Meghan B Lane-Fall
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 21798, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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