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Review
. 2024 Oct;40(4):805-825.
doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2024.05.010.

Social Disparities and Critical Illness during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

Yhenneko J Taylor  1 , Marc Kowalkowski  2 , Jessica Palakshappa  3
Affiliations
Review

Social Disparities and Critical Illness during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

Yhenneko J Taylor et al. Crit Care Clin. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raised new considerations for social disparities in critical illness including hospital capacity and access to personal protective equipment, access to evolving therapies, vaccinations, virtual care, and restrictions on family visitation. This narrative review aims to explore evidence about racial/ethnic and socioeconomic differences in critical illness during the COVID-19 pandemic, factors driving those differences and promising solutions for mitigating inequities in the future. We apply a patient journey framework to identify social disparities at various stages before, during, and after patient interactions with critical care services and discuss recommendations for policy and practice.

Keywords: COVID-19; Critical illness; Health disparities; Patient journey; Social determinants of health.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Impact of structural and social determinants of health on health and well-being along the patient’s journey prior to, during, and after hospitalization for critical illness. (Adapted from Solar O, Irwin A. A conceptual framework for action on the social determinants of health. Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper 2.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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