The language status of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 may significantly impact health outcomes during their admission, as non-English speaking individuals were found to have 35 percent greater odds of dying or requiring intensive care unit (ICU) support during the earliest phase of the pandemic compared to English-speaking patients, according to a study by Mass General Brigham (MGB). While improvements have since occurred, researchers discovered that sociodemographic disparities continue to disproportionately affect COVID-19 hospitalization and clinical outcomes of minority patients, creating the need for additional interventions at both hospital and community levels to close the equity gap. The results were published in Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
Non-English speaking patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at-risk of worse health outcomes
The language status of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 may significantly impact health outcomes during their admission, as non-English speaking individuals were found to have 35 percent greater odds of dying or requiring intensive care unit (ICU) support during the earliest phase of the pandemic compared to English-speaking patients, according to a study by Mass General Brigham (MGB). While improvements have since occurred, researchers discovered that sociodemographic disparities continue to disproportionately affect COVID-19 hospitalization and clinical outcomes of minority patients, creating the need for additional interventions at both hospital and community levels to close the equity gap. The results were published in Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.