Impact of social vulnerability on COVID-19 health indicators in Puerto Rico

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many communities globally, especially socially vulnerable communities. This study emphasizes how the characteristics of the environment and the host facilitated the risk of disease and mortality from COVID-19 in 2020. In this study, age-adjusted YPLL rates due to COVID-19 were higher in Hispanics in the United States than in residents of Puerto Rico. The age-adjusted incidence, mortality, and case-fatality rates in Puerto Rico by region were not significantly associated with the Puerto Rico Social Vulnerability Index and the Puerto Rico Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index. The low number of data points could account for the high p-values obtained. The implications of this study suggest that the PRSVI and PRSEVI may not be adequate to assess the vulnerability of Health Regions of Puerto Rico when facing a pandemic.