Disparities in Excess Mortality Associated with COVID-19 – CDC Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study showing that non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Black and AI/AN persons had the highest excess all-cause mortality incidence rates among those aged under 25 years and those 25–64 years old, whereas among adults older than 65 years old, the largest excess mortality incidence rates occurred among Black and Hispanic persons. Findings also showed the changing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over time for different subgroups. Among persons over 65 years old, excess mortality incidence rates peaked during April–June 2020 for Black adults, while remaining consistently elevated among Hispanic adults, and increasing from April–June 2020 to October–December 2020 for AI/AN, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NH/PI), and White adults. Recent reports also indicate that Black and AI/AN populations experienced the highest age-adjusted death rates in 2020. Therefore, identifying the racial/ethnic and age groups with the highest excess mortality rates could help guide targeted public health messaging and mitigation efforts to reduce disparities in COVID-19–associated mortality in the United States. Read more.