Children of racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a consequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To better comprehend MIS-C inequalities, researchers conducted a pilot study to examine risk variables for MIS-C. Frequency-matched 4:1 by age and place, this case-control study included MIS-C patients and SARS-CoV-2 positive outpatient controls younger than 18 years of age. Patients with MIS-C were admitted to one of 17 children’s hospitals between March 16 and October 2, 2020. Using a mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression, they analyzed the association between race/ethnicity/social vulnerability index (SVI)/insurance/weight-for-age/pre existing diseases. In this study, they compared 817 SARS-CoV-2 positive outpatients with 241 MIS-C cases. There were no significant differences between the cases and controls in terms of sex, age, and distribution across the United States by census region. Patients who underwent MIS-C were more likely to have been in good health, to begin with, be non-Hispanic Black, live in locations with a higher SVI, and be in the 95th percentile or higher for weight-for-age. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.07; 95% CI: 1.23-3.48] found that non-Hispanic Black children had a greater risk of MIS-C than other children. Being previously healthy (aOR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.18-2.28) and SVI in the 2nd and 3rd tertiles (aOR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.18-2.97 and aOR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.19-3.47, respectively) were also independent factors. After accounting for socioeconomic status, preexisting medical illnesses, and weight-for-age, this study found that non-Hispanic Black children had a higher risk of developing MIS-C. It’s important to look into what role immunologic, environmental, and other factors might have.
Source: journals.lww.com/pidj/Fulltext/2022/11000/Investigating_Health_Disparities_Associated_With.5.aspx
