Table 4.
Effects of potential confounders on the racial disparity in COVID-19–associated hospitalizationa in Louisiana
| Variables | Indirect effect (95% CI) | Relative effect, % (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Mediation analysis with number of chronic diseasesb | ||
| Age, yc | -0.065 (-0.089 to -0.032) | -8.5 (-12.4 to -3.74) |
| Sex | -0.006 (-0.020 to 0.000) | -0.7 (-2.65 to 0.0) |
| Insuranced | 0.012 (-0.027 to 0.050) | 1.5 (-3.4 to 6.5) |
| Povertye | -0.033 (-0.088 to 0.021) | -4.3 (-11.7 to 2.6) |
| Cancer type | -0.010 (-0.035 to 0.006) | -1.3 (-4.6 to 0.8) |
| Obesity | 0.023 (0.002 to 0.041) | 3.0 (0.3 to 5.4) |
| Number of chronic diseases | 0.291 (0.229 to 0.375) | 37.8 (29.1 to 48.3) |
| Direct effect | 0.583 (0.411 to 0.736) | 75.6 (58.7 to 86.6) |
| Total effect | 0.771 (0.618 to 0.961) | |
| Mediation analysis with individual chronic diseasesb | ||
| Age, yc | -0.066 (-0.088 to -0.030) | -8.9 (-13.3 to -3.9) |
| Sex | -0.008 (-0.019 to 0.000) | -1.1 (-2.8 to 0.00) |
| Insuranced | 0.004 (-0.037 to 0.045) | 0.6 (-5.2 to 6.1) |
| Povertye | -0.032 (-0.089 to 0.021) | -4.4 (-12.7 to 2.8) |
| Cancer type | -0.008 (-0.031 to 0.010) | -1.1 (-4.4 to 1.4) |
| Obesity | 0.016 (-0.004 to 0.036) | 2.1 (-0.5 to 5.2) |
| Hypertension | 0.071 (0.044 to 0.100) | 9.6 (5.9. 14.3) |
| Diabetes | 0.066 (0.044 to 0.100) | 8.9 (6.0 to 14.6) |
| Chronic renal disease | 0.054 (0.036 to 0.083) | 7.3 (4.9 to 11.7) |
| Chronic heart failure | 0.015 (0.005 to 0.028) | 2.0 (0.6 to 4.0) |
| Chronic liver disease | 0.004 (0.000 to 0.014) | 0.5 (0.0 to 2.0) |
| Hyperlipidemia | 0.009 (-0.006 to 0.025) | 1.2 (-1.0 to 3.4) |
| Myocardial infarction | 0.003 (-0.001 to 0.009) | 0.4 (-0.2 to 1.3) |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 0.000 (-0.003 to 0.003) | 0.0 (-0.4 to 0.4) |
| Chronic pulmonary disease | 0.007 (-0.005 to 0.016) | 1.0 (-0.7 to 2.2) |
| Other chronic diseasesf | 0.011 (0.001 to 0.020) | 1.4 (0.1 to 2.8) |
| Direct effect | 0.585 (0.407 to 0.740) | 79.1 (64.1 to 93.0) |
| Total effect | 0.740 (0.560 to 0.902) |
a
Please see the Method section for the definition of COVID-19–associated hospitalization. Statistically significant values are in bold font. CI = confidence interval.
b
All listed variables are included in the multivariable mediation models.
c
Age at the first positive COVID-19 test.
d
Health insurance at cancer diagnosis and around the first course of treatment.
e
Poverty at the residential census tract at the time of the first COVID-19 positive.
f
Included dementia, paralysis, ulcers, rheum, AIDS, and cerebrovascular disease.