Changes in Acute ED Visits by Race/Ethnicity During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

This study used 2018 –2020 ED visit data from the largest safety net hospital in Los Angeles County to estimate ED visit differences for cardiac emergencies, diabetic complications, and strokes, during the first societal lockdown among Black and Hispanic patients using time series analyses. Emergency department visits were lower than the expected levels during the first societal lockdown. However, after the lockdown ended, Black patients experienced a rebound in ED visits while visits for Hispanics remained depressed. Future research could identify barriers Hispanics experienced that contributed to prolonged ED avoidance.
Source: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research