Event Title
COVID-19 has taken advantage of NY's most vulnerable population, its racial and ethnic minorities
Start Date
21-6-2021 11:40 AM
End Date
21-6-2021 12:20 PM
Topic
Panel Discussion The Impact of COVID-19 Through the Eyes of SUNY Students
Session Chair
DeeDee Bennett Gayle
Abstract
Covid-19 has highlighted several health disparities that have disproportionately exposed millions of New York’s ethnic and racial minorities to an increased risk of severe disease progression. These disparities have led to health consequences that are well defined by researchers throughout. This has resulted in higher instances of severe disease progression and mortality among this group. The differential impact of Covid-19 on NYS’s racial and ethnic minorities must be explored using an evidence-based approach. The abstract titled, Covid-19 Has Taken advantage of New York’s Most Vulnerable Population, its Racial and Ethnic Minorities aims to address the existing disparities that have led to poorer patient outcomes in this population. Important subtopics explored include limited access to healthcare, limited access to nutritious foods, and Vitamin D deficiency. Looking at these various subtopics allows for a robust analysis of some of the most important underlying causes for the discrepancy in Covid-19 disease progression in this group. By developing insights that are heavily based on research, this abstract aims to inform policy in a powerful way. Access to healthcare - Limited access to advanced medical treatments for NYS’s minorities meant that groundbreaking experimental therapies were off the table for this group. In addition, major gaps in health insurance also meant less opportunity to seek out healthcare until after the damage had already been done. Changes to Hospital reimbursement rates meant that big academic centers received higher reimbursement, while smaller community hospitals experienced closures that resulted in provider shortages. Access to Nutrient-dense foods - Limited access to nutrient-dense foods meant that this population was already at a disadvantage before the pandemic even hit. Food Deserts are commonplace in NYS communities of color. Unemployment, food insecurity, and purchasing proximity led to an increase in the consumption of these low-priced meals. Obesity played a major role in COVID-19 disease progression in this group. Low-grade chronic systemic inflammation, common in those who suffer from obesity, increases the risk of developing a severe hyperinflammatory response to COVID-19. This has led to higher instances of death in this population. Vitamin D deficiency - Early in the pandemic anecdotal reporting from clinicians showed that Vitamin-D deficiency might serve as an important biomarker for disease progression. Today, numerous studies support this stance. Higher levels of melanin in the skin tissue of racial and ethnic minorities prevent the uptake of vitamin D during roughly 80% of the year when little direct light hits NYS. This inherent lack of Vitamin-D often time means decreased T regulatory lymphocytes. These immune-modulating agents are vital in defending against auto-immune inflammatory responses like the immune response that leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in the sickest COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D supplementation can solve this issue. Through means of addressing these health disparities, NYS can better position itself in protecting its racial and ethnic minorities from adverse health outcomes. Using research-driven approaches, NYS can put an end to these disparities which have led to disproportionately poorer health outcomes in this group.
Author Bio
Jose Velez is a Junior at the University at Albany where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in Psychology and Neuroscience. Originally from the City of Yonkers, Jose was brought up by his mother who immigrated from the Dominican Republic. He is a Premed student at UAlbany and has research interests in Emergency Medicine, Experimental Neuroscience, and community outreach. Jose is the Vice-President of the Doctors without Borders student chapter at UAlbany and is the founder of Project Heal, where he is actively working to bridge the gap between marginalized people and healthcare in the Capital region. Jose is also currently volunteering as an EMT and is interning at Albany Meds Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics over the summer. Jose’s interest in Public Health stemmed from his research interests and his own personnel experiences with Covid-19 after he and his family contracted Covid-19. After becoming very sick, Jose reviewed dozens of scientific publications in an effort to help himself and his family overcome the virus. During this period, he developed his interest in Public Health. His experience with Covid allowed him to witness first-hand the ways that Covid-19 disproportionately affected him and his community. Some of his awards include the Spellman award of academic excellence and the Situation Prize for Community advocacy. Jose aspires to pursue a career in medicine and public health with the dream of someday becoming an interventional Neurosurgeon. When Jose has free time, he enjoys discovering vegan restaurants, working on his car, and spending time with family and friends.
Document Type
Extended Abstract
COVID-19 has taken advantage of NY's most vulnerable population, its racial and ethnic minorities
Covid-19 has highlighted several health disparities that have disproportionately exposed millions of New York’s ethnic and racial minorities to an increased risk of severe disease progression. These disparities have led to health consequences that are well defined by researchers throughout. This has resulted in higher instances of severe disease progression and mortality among this group. The differential impact of Covid-19 on NYS’s racial and ethnic minorities must be explored using an evidence-based approach. The abstract titled, Covid-19 Has Taken advantage of New York’s Most Vulnerable Population, its Racial and Ethnic Minorities aims to address the existing disparities that have led to poorer patient outcomes in this population. Important subtopics explored include limited access to healthcare, limited access to nutritious foods, and Vitamin D deficiency. Looking at these various subtopics allows for a robust analysis of some of the most important underlying causes for the discrepancy in Covid-19 disease progression in this group. By developing insights that are heavily based on research, this abstract aims to inform policy in a powerful way. Access to healthcare - Limited access to advanced medical treatments for NYS’s minorities meant that groundbreaking experimental therapies were off the table for this group. In addition, major gaps in health insurance also meant less opportunity to seek out healthcare until after the damage had already been done. Changes to Hospital reimbursement rates meant that big academic centers received higher reimbursement, while smaller community hospitals experienced closures that resulted in provider shortages. Access to Nutrient-dense foods - Limited access to nutrient-dense foods meant that this population was already at a disadvantage before the pandemic even hit. Food Deserts are commonplace in NYS communities of color. Unemployment, food insecurity, and purchasing proximity led to an increase in the consumption of these low-priced meals. Obesity played a major role in COVID-19 disease progression in this group. Low-grade chronic systemic inflammation, common in those who suffer from obesity, increases the risk of developing a severe hyperinflammatory response to COVID-19. This has led to higher instances of death in this population. Vitamin D deficiency - Early in the pandemic anecdotal reporting from clinicians showed that Vitamin-D deficiency might serve as an important biomarker for disease progression. Today, numerous studies support this stance. Higher levels of melanin in the skin tissue of racial and ethnic minorities prevent the uptake of vitamin D during roughly 80% of the year when little direct light hits NYS. This inherent lack of Vitamin-D often time means decreased T regulatory lymphocytes. These immune-modulating agents are vital in defending against auto-immune inflammatory responses like the immune response that leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in the sickest COVID-19 patients. Vitamin D supplementation can solve this issue. Through means of addressing these health disparities, NYS can better position itself in protecting its racial and ethnic minorities from adverse health outcomes. Using research-driven approaches, NYS can put an end to these disparities which have led to disproportionately poorer health outcomes in this group.
Comments
The recording for this panel discussion ends at 3:34:35