Coronavirus brings health disparities to forefront

Although the pandemic poses an ongoing challenge to us all, African American and Hispanic communities are disproportionately feeling the virus’ toll.

Health disparities occur when different groups have varying abilities to access quality care, said Dr. Joseph Gathe, a Houston-based infectious disease physician. “This is a story that we have had for a long time and unfortunately the pandemic has emphasized it more.”

In the latest Texas Bullhorn Facebook Live conversation with AARP Texas State Director Tina Tran, Gathe discussed the factors that contribute to these disparities, the demographic data that help illustrate the problem, and medical advice for staying safe.

Access to fresh food and housing stability are major factors in these health disparities. Communities where fast food is the predominantly available option tend to see higher rates of diabetes and obesity: conditions which predispose individuals to a serious coronavirus outcome, and conditions felt more frequently in the African American community.

Collecting patient demographic data and making sure those demographics are represented in treatment and vaccine studies is extremely important, Gathe said.

Treatments tested with non-minority individuals ages 18 to 55 who are healthy, for example, wouldn’t necessarily have the same effect if applied to a 65-year-old African American with hypertension or diabetes, Gathe said.

Without this representation in studies, recommending treatments to his patients becomes problematic.  “I don’t have any ammunition as a physician to tell you as an African American woman or a Latino male that this is the right or wrong thing to do,” he said.

Going forward, Gathe urges everyone to listen to the scientists and healthcare professionals.

Alongside social distancing and maintaining good hygiene, Gathe encourages people to wear a mask in public to stem the tide of cases.

“If you don’t care about yourself, care about the person next to you,” he said. “Whether you know them or not, be a good neighbor.”