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. 2021 Jan;96(1):78-85.
doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.10.019. Epub 2020 Oct 22.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Community Mobility Reduction and COVID-19 Growth

Ashley Ossimetha  1 , Angelina Ossimetha  2 , Cyrus M Kosar  2 , Momotazur Rahman  3
Affiliations

Socioeconomic Disparities in Community Mobility Reduction and COVID-19 Growth

Ashley Ossimetha et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To examine differences in community mobility reduction and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outcomes across counties with differing levels of socioeconomic disadvantage.

Methods: The sample included counties in the United States with at least one SARS-CoV-2 case between April 1 and May 15, 2020. Outcomes were growth in SARS-CoV-2 cases, SARS-CoV-2-related deaths, and mobility reduction across three settings: retail/recreation, grocery/pharmacy, and workplace. The main explanatory variable was the social deprivation index (SDI), a composite socioeconomic disadvantage measure.

Results: Adjusted differences in outcomes between low-, medium-, and high-SDI counties (defined by tertile) were calculated using linear regression with state-fixed effects. Workplace mobility reduction was 1.75 (95% CI, -2.36 to -1.14; P<.001) and 3.48 percentage points (95% CI, -4.21 to -2.75; P<.001) lower for medium- and high-SDI counties relative to low-SDI counties, respectively. Mobility reductions in the other settings were also significantly lower for higher-SDI counties. In analyses adjusted for SARS-CoV-2 prevalence on April 1, medium- and high-SDI counties had 1.39 (95% CI, 0.85 to 1.93; P<.001) and 2.56 (95% CI, 1.77 to 3.34; P<.001) more SARS-CoV-2 cases/1000 population on May 15 compared with low-SDI counties, respectively. Deaths per capita were also significantly higher for higher-SDI counties.

Conclusion: Counties with higher social deprivation scores experienced greater growth in SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths, but reduced mobility at lower rates. These findings are consistent with evidence demonstrating that economically disadvantaged communities have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Efforts to socially distance may be more burdensome for these communities, potentially exacerbating disparities in SARS-CoV-2-related outcomes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mobility reduction in April by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) prevalence on April 1, 2020, for counties with low, medium, and high social deprivation index levels. A, Retail/recreation. B, Workplace. C, Grocery/pharmacy. Plots are drawn using locally weighted smoothing. County social deprivation index (SDI) level was classified as low, medium, and high based off of tertile rank.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) prevalence and deaths on May 15, 2020, by SARS-CoV-2 prevalence on April 1, 2020, for counties with low, medium, and high social deprivation index levels. A, Cases per 1000 persons, May 15, 2020. B, Deaths per 100,000 on May 15, 2020. Plots are drawn using locally weighted scatter plot smoothing smoothing. County social deprivation index (SDI) level was classified as low, medium, and high based off of tertile rank.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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