Journal article
Multilevel modeling of county-level excessive alcohol use, rurality, and COVID-19 case fatality rates in the US
PloS one, Vol.16(6), pp.e0253466-e0253466
06/17/2021
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253466
PMCID: PMC8211222
PMID: 34138950
Abstract
Objective Reports of disparities in COVID-19 mortality rates are emerging in the public health literature as the pandemic continues to unfold. Alcohol misuse varies across the US and is related to poorer health and comorbidities that likely affect the severity of COVID-19 infection. High levels of pre-pandemic alcohol misuse in some counties may have set the stage for worse COVID-19 outcomes. Furthermore, this relationship may depend on how rural a county is, as access to healthcare in rural communities has lagged behind more urban areas. The objective of this study was to test for associations between county-level COVID-19 mortality, pre-pandemic county-level excessive drinking, and county rurality. Method We used national COVID-19 data from the New York Times to calculate county-level case fatality rates (n = 3,039 counties and county equivalents; October 1 –December 31, 2020) and other external county-level data sources for indicators of rurality and health. We used beta regression to model case fatality rates, adjusted for several county-level population characteristics. We included a multilevel component to our model and defined state as a random intercept. Our focal predictor was a single variable representing nine possible combinations of low/mid/high alcohol misuse and low/mid/high rurality. Results The median county-level COVID-19 case fatality rate was 1.57%. Compared to counties with low alcohol misuse and low rurality (referent), counties with high levels of alcohol and mid (β = -0.17, p = 0.008) or high levels of rurality (β = -0.24, p<0.001) demonstrated significantly lower case fatality rates. Conclusions Our findings highlight the intersecting roles of county-level alcohol consumption, rurality, and COVID-19 mortality.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Multilevel modeling of county-level excessive alcohol use, rurality, and COVID-19 case fatality rates in the US
- Creators
- George ProPaul A GilbertJulie A BaldwinClare C BrownSean YoungNickolas Zaller
- Contributors
- Antonio Palazón-Bru (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.16(6), pp.e0253466-e0253466
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0253466
- PMID
- 34138950
- PMCID
- PMC8211222
- NLM abbreviation
- PLoS One
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- eISSN
- 1932-6203
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/17/2021
- Academic Unit
- Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984215018102771
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