A new analysis published in Annals of Internal Medicine reveals how the COVID-19 pandemic affected mortality rates differently across Latino populations in the United States. The study, based on data from over 15,000 Latino adults, compared pre-pandemic mortality trends from 2008-2011 to those seen in 2020-2021.
Prior to the pandemic, Puerto Ricans and Cubans had the highest cumulative mortality risks among Latino groups studied, while South Americans had the lowest. However, during the pandemic, the picture shifted. After adjusting for age and other factors, Central Americans and Mexicans faced somewhat higher mortality risks compared to Puerto Ricans and Cubans.
The researchers found that socioeconomic factors played a major role in these disparities. For instance, 20.3% of Mexican Latinos lacked health insurance, compared to only 8% of Puerto Rican Latinos. Lifestyle factors were the second most important contributor to mortality differences.
“Our findings suggest that mortality risks varied during the pandemic after adjustment for lifestyle and clinical factors,” the study authors noted. They emphasized how the pandemic highlighted existing disparities among Latino subgroups.
An accompanying editorial praised the study for its potential to inform “theoretical models and frameworks on Latino mortality and health,” addressing a significant gap in US public health research.
This analysis underscores the importance of considering the diversity within broad ethnic categories when studying health outcomes and developing targeted public health interventions.
See “COVID-19 pandemic changed all-cause mortality among US Latinos” (March 6, 2024)
