Residents of North Philadelphia are invited to Participate in our COVID-19 Project:
“Lend Your Voice”
Cardiovascular Health Equity in COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the wide-ranging health disparities that exist in the United States. At the forefront are African Americans who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 disease experiencing 30%-60% of the deaths while only making up 13% of the US population. While racial disparities in cardiovascular care have been well documented for a long time, less universally appreciated but equally as important are the racial disparities in maternal mortality. In the United States, there are approximately 700 women each year who die from pregnancy related complications and African American women are disproportionately affected, carrying the highest maternal mortality rates. Solutions to eliminate these disparities will come from targeted investments in understanding their cause and developing viable solutions. Input from community members are key for solutions to be successfully developed and implemented.
Historically, when caring for African American patients and females, their voices are seldom heard or solicited regarding their care. Research into COVID-19 is begging for the representation of African American and female voices to assist with designing research which addresses their unique issues and concerns. Our team at Temple has been awarded a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) award to engage North Philadelphia community members and incorporate their needs, preferences, and perspectives in identifying areas for the future design of research on the cardiovascular disease and complications related to COVID-19. Narratives are recognized for their ability to engage. Compelling real-life, COVID-19 health stories will serve to engage and sustain interest in developing a research agenda.