Among inpatients, disparities were different and of lesser magnitude: Hispanic inpatients received dexamethasone 6% less often than did non-Hispanic inpatients, and Black inpatients received remdesivir 9% more often than did White inpatients. Hispanic patients received mAb 58% less often than did non-Hispanic patients, and Black, Asian, or Other race patients received mAb 22%, 48%, and 47% less often, respectively, than did White patients during November 2020–August 2021. Among all patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, the overall use of mAb was infrequent, with mean monthly use at 4% or less for all racial and ethnic groups. Relative disparities in mAb** treatment among all patients †† (805,276) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result and in dexamethasone and remdesivir treatment among inpatients §§ (120,204) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result were calculated. health care systems that participated in the PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, ¶ this study assessed receipt of medications for COVID-19 treatment by race (White, Black, Asian, and Other races ) and ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). Using COVID-19 patient electronic health record data from 41 U.S. No large-scale studies have yet examined the use of mAb by race and ethnicity.

† Dexamethasone, a commonly used steroid, and remdesivir, an antiviral drug that received EUA from FDA in May 2020, are used in inpatient settings and help prevent COVID-19 progression § ( 2). mAbs are typically administered in an outpatient setting via intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injection and can prevent progression of COVID-19 if given after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result or for postexposure prophylaxis in patients at high risk for severe illness. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, initially received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2020. Equitable use of effective medications ( 2) could reduce disparities in these severe outcomes ( 3). The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified longstanding health care and social inequities, resulting in disproportionately high COVID-19–associated illness and death among members of racial and ethnic minority groups ( 1).

Preferential treatment based on race