SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Disparities and Hesitancy in Covid Hospitalization Reducing Monoclonal Antibody Treatment_at_a_field

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This study examined racial disparities in use of monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for COVID-19 at the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital infusion center from January 4 to May 14, 2021. Researchers reviewed patient demographics, scheduling, and final treatment status. They classified “refused treatment” and “cancelled” as mAb hesitancy, and grouped all cases where patients did not receive treatment as underutilization. Patients who received treatment at BCCFH or elsewhere were considered appropriately utilized. Logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, and zip-code poverty rate was used to compare outcomes by race.<br /><br />The study found that nearly half of eligible patients who did not receive treatment were untreated because of hesitancy. Specifically, mAb hesitancy accounted for 48.0% of underutilization. African American patients had higher odds of missing treatment because of hesitancy compared with White patients (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3–2.1). They were more likely to refuse treatment, cancel appointments, be unreachable, be hospitalized before their appointment, or be transferred to the emergency department on arrival.<br /><br />In contrast, White patients had greater odds of actually receiving treatment at BCCFH (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3–1.9) or at another infusion site (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3–7.7).<br /><br />The authors conclude that even when access barriers such as testing and referral timing were addressed, African American patients still underutilized mAb treatment more often than White patients, largely due to hesitancy. This suggests that racial disparities in COVID-19 care extend beyond access and may also involve trust, perception, and acceptance of treatment.

Asset Subtitle

Zishan Siddiqui

Meta Tag

Author List Ishaan Gupta, Maisha Foyez, Mary Jane Vaeth, Maryam ElHabashy, Melinda Kantsiper, Sophia Purekal, Yahya Shaikh, Zishan Siddiqui

Category Research

Concept Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

Concept Racial Disparity

Concept COVID-19

Concept Treatment Utilization

Concept Hesitancy

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital /Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Presenting Author Zishan Siddiqui

Track Other

Keywords

racial disparities

monoclonal antibody treatment

COVID-19

Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital

mAb hesitancy

African American patients

White patients

underutilization

treatment refusal

health equity

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

Racial Disparity

COVID-19

Treatment Utilization

Hesitancy