COVID-19 Related Health Disparities in Ophthalmology with a Retrospective Analysis at a Large Academic Public Hospital.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Y. Grace Chung, Emory University; Christie M. Person, Grady Health System; Jacquelyn O'Banion, Emory University; Susan Primo, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-04-22
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yaoo.2022.04.005
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Adv Ophthalmol Optom
• Keywords: COVID-19; ophthalmic findings; public U.S. hospital; healthcare disparities
• Research Categories: Biology, Virology; Health Sciences, Health Care Management; Health Sciences, Opthamology

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, especially Black, Latinx and Native American communities. While recent meta-analyses have identified the prevalence of ocular manifestations in COVID-19 infection, no studies with these potential findings, to the authors' knowledge, have been implemented in examining ophthalmic disparities in racial and ethnic minorities. It is additionally clear that patient access to eye care from COVID-19 has been disproportionate in underserved communities. Large public hospitals and urban academic medical centers provide a unique opportunity to further study ocular disease presentation and health disparities from COVID-19 in these populations.