Latinos in California have more difficult medical conditions since the start of the pandemic.
Photo: Go Nakamura/Getty Images
The mortality rate of Latino residents of Los Angeles (California) for the first time exceeded that of white residents as of 2020, the first year of the covid-19 pandemic, according to a county analysis.
For years, public health experts have noted that Latino residents had a better death rate than whites despite a greater likelihood of low income, chronic health problems and less access to health care.
Now, the COVID pandemic has upended the “Latino paradox” in Los Angeles County.
Latinos also experienced the largest percentage increase in death rates from all causes among the four groups analyzed between 2019 and 2021, according to the analysis made available to the Los Angeles Times.
Mortality for Latinos rose 48% in the study period, going from a rate of 511 deaths per 100,000 residents of this group to one of 756. The increase doubled the increase in the mortality rate for all residents, which it was 23%.
African-Americans have long had the highest death rate in Los Angeleswhich rose during the pandemic from 835 to 1,027 deaths per 100,000 residents of that group, which represents an increase of 23%.
The death rate for Asian Americans rose 22%.
The death rate for white residents increased the least (7.5%), rising from 630 to 678 deaths per 100,000 residents of that community.
County health officials maintain that most of the increase in total deaths is directly related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Don Garcia, medical director of Clinica Romero, said the data on Latinos needs to be disaggregated to reveal even deeper disparities within this community, including marginalized groups such as “undocumented immigrants, people without insurance, and people without access to care.” medical”.
The expert requested a public hearing and the creation of a task force dedicated to the issue and even a meeting of all the leaders to analyze it as “any type of catastrophic emergency.”
It may interest you:
– Depression and anxiety double in adolescents during the pandemic
– Report demonstrates how the lack of investment in Latino communities widens the gaps in important sectors
– Latinos, the most impacted by the pandemic and the most committed to recovery
Leave a Reply