Association between distance to community health care facilities and COVID-19–related mortality across U.S. counties in the COVID-19–vaccine era

[摘要] ObjectiveCOVID-19 has caused tremendous damage to U.S. public health, but COVID vaccines can effectively reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and related mortality. Our study aimed to quantify the association between proximity to a community healthcare facility and COVID-19 related mortality after COVID vaccines became publicly available and explore how this association varied across racial and ethnic groups.ResultsResidents living farther from a facility had higher COVID-19–related mortality across U.S. counties. This increased mortality incidence associated with longer distances was particularly pronounced in counties with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic populations.

[发布日期] 2023-05-22

[关键词] COVID-19 mortality;Social determinant of health;Health disparities;Geographic proximity;Healthcare access;Racial disparities