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Comparative Study
. 2020 Jul 1;3(7):e2016933.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.16933.

Comparison of Weighted and Unweighted Population Data to Assess Inequities in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Deaths by Race/Ethnicity Reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Tori L Cowger  1   2   3 , Brigette A Davis  1   3   4 , Onisha S Etkins  1   3   4 , Keletso Makofane  1   3   4 , Jourdyn A Lawrence  1   3   4 , Mary T Bassett  1   4 , Nancy Krieger  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of Weighted and Unweighted Population Data to Assess Inequities in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Deaths by Race/Ethnicity Reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Tori L Cowger et al. JAMA Netw Open. .

Erratum in

  • Error in Figure.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Aug 3;3(8):e2019768. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19768. JAMA Netw Open. 2020. PMID: 32833012 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study compares the use of weighted and unweighted population data to assess inequities in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths by race/ethnicity as reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Figures

Figure.
Figure.. Examples of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Geographical Population Weighting
The figure shows examples of CDC geographical population weighting using a fictitious state with 3 counties (A) and actual CDC weighting of counties in New York State (B) by population, household crowding, and percentage of county population who are people of color (POC). The impact of the CDC’s method of geographical reweighting is demonstrated by juxtaposing the hypothetical example in panel A with actual county population data in panel B. By up-weighting counties such as county A (eg, Bronx), down-weighting counties such as county C (eg, Albany), and excluding counties such as county B (eg, Saratoga), the CDC inflates the proportion of residents of color in the weighted population, making their risk of death appear lower, while deflating the proportion of White residents, making their risk of death appear greater.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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