Read on Twitter
1/
New study in @PLOSMedicine on racial/ethnic disparities in #COVID19 in US.
Black and Hispanic people were 2x as likely to test positive than White people, even after adjustment.
No difference in mortality among cases.
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003379
@vahsrd @VAResearch @LSHTM
New study in @PLOSMedicine on racial/ethnic disparities in #COVID19 in US.
Black and Hispanic people were 2x as likely to test positive than White people, even after adjustment.
No difference in mortality among cases.
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003379
@vahsrd @VAResearch @LSHTM
2/
We found variation in the Black/White disparity in testing positive by region, with stronger disparity in Midwest. B/W disparity slightly decreased over study period and was highest at facilities with an early outbreak of #COVID19. No variation in the Hispanic/White disparity.
We found variation in the Black/White disparity in testing positive by region, with stronger disparity in Midwest. B/W disparity slightly decreased over study period and was highest at facilities with an early outbreak of #COVID19. No variation in the Hispanic/White disparity.
3/
About the data: @DeptVetAffairs is the largest integrated healthcare system in the US with 1200+ points-of-care nationally. The VA #ehr offers one of the largest national data resources available in US that includes system-wide #COVID19 testing and 20+ yrs of clinical records.
About the data: @DeptVetAffairs is the largest integrated healthcare system in the US with 1200+ points-of-care nationally. The VA #ehr offers one of the largest national data resources available in US that includes system-wide #COVID19 testing and 20+ yrs of clinical records.
4/
Why the disparity? Frankly, we don't know. #EHR data typically do not include detailed data on socio-demographic (e.g., living in densely populated areas or multi-generational households, working in essential industries, including high-contact jobs) that MAY be factors here.
Why the disparity? Frankly, we don't know. #EHR data typically do not include detailed data on socio-demographic (e.g., living in densely populated areas or multi-generational households, working in essential industries, including high-contact jobs) that MAY be factors here.
5/
Implications: There is urgent need for improved strategies to contain & prevent further outbreaks of #COVID19 in minority communities in the US. In the VA, our findings were used to develop dashboards that identify outbreaks in racial/ethnic minority groups at all VA sites.
Implications: There is urgent need for improved strategies to contain & prevent further outbreaks of #COVID19 in minority communities in the US. In the VA, our findings were used to develop dashboards that identify outbreaks in racial/ethnic minority groups at all VA sites.
6/
This paper represents monumental efforts by study co-authors (5/16 with Twitter: @drlesleypark @AnnaTheresia @Jarvis_Stats @kriscrothers), champion individuals ( @atkins_hsrd @RachelRamoni), groups ( @vahsrd @VAResearch), and constructive feedback on pre-print from #epitwitter
This paper represents monumental efforts by study co-authors (5/16 with Twitter: @drlesleypark @AnnaTheresia @Jarvis_Stats @kriscrothers), champion individuals ( @atkins_hsrd @RachelRamoni), groups ( @vahsrd @VAResearch), and constructive feedback on pre-print from #epitwitter
7/
We are immensely thankful to @PLOSMedicine for giving us an excellent platform to share the awesomeness of @DeptVetAffairs data. 20+ years of annotated, detailed, clinical records. Linked external data for outside events. And now system-wide #COVID19 testing.
We are immensely thankful to @PLOSMedicine for giving us an excellent platform to share the awesomeness of @DeptVetAffairs data. 20+ years of annotated, detailed, clinical records. Linked external data for outside events. And now system-wide #COVID19 testing.
8a/
Now for some #realtalk.
Many editors/reviewers have a real bias against VA data, often stating a variation of "Veterans are physiologically different than the general population" (!)
This paper was not immune to such nonsense.
Guess what?
Veterans
are people too
Now for some #realtalk.
Many editors/reviewers have a real bias against VA data, often stating a variation of "Veterans are physiologically different than the general population" (!)
This paper was not immune to such nonsense.
Guess what?
Veterans
are people too
8b/
Vets are older and have more chronic health conditions/risk behaviours than civilians. But these differences can be adjusted out using basic demographics, incl. age, sex, race/ethnicity, region, and residence type.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1165z1.html
Category is: #epitwitter realness
Vets are older and have more chronic health conditions/risk behaviours than civilians. But these differences can be adjusted out using basic demographics, incl. age, sex, race/ethnicity, region, and residence type.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1165z1.html
Category is: #epitwitter realness
