The Distribution of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Age, Sex, and Race in Georgia in 2021 Open Access

Ajani, Sonya (Spring 2022)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/f7623d87p?locale=en
Published

Abstract

Introduction: Georgia has about 1.9 million confirmed cases—ranked 9th of all states--and 30,916 deaths. Georgia is a state in the Southeast with a racially and socioeconomically diverse population with relatively low vaccination uptake. The objective of the study is to conduct a descriptive analysis of COVID-19 cases and deaths by age, sex, and race, and disparities therein, in Georgia from January 2021 to December 2021.

 

Methods: Data were from the Georgia Department of Public Health’s State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SendSS). Descriptive analysis was conducted to assess the distribution of COVID-19 confirmed and antigen positive cases and deaths by age, sex, and race.

 

Results: Cumulatively over 2021, children under 18 accounted for 23.2% of cases and 0.1% of deaths, people aged 18-65 accounted for 68.6% of cases and 36.0% of deaths, and people 65 and older accounted for 8.2% of cases and 63.9% of deaths. Females accounted for 53.7% of cases and 45.9% of deaths. White individuals make up 60.2% of the Georgia population and accounted for 52.0% of cases and 64.7% of deaths. Black individuals make up 32.6% of the Georgia population and accounted for 36.4% of cases and 31.5% of deaths. Despite statistically significant differences in the age, sex, and race composition of cases and deaths by month, there were few consistent trends. There was a large increase in the percentage of cases that were  <18 years in August and September when schools opened. There was an uptick in the percentage of female cases from November to December. The percentage of cases that were Black steadily rose from 30.6% in January to 42.8% in May, then declined to 27.5% in November, only to spike to 47.8% in December.

 

Conclusion: We found variability in the demographic composition of cases and deaths from month to month over the 2021 calendar year. Tracking this demographic variation may be useful to public health response. Further tracking of demographic variation at a more granular level (such as county) and across more outcomes (such as hospitalizations, testing access, and vaccinations) may assist with evaluation of ongoing interventions targeting COVID-19 over time.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION.. 1

CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW AND BACKGROUND.. 2

CHAPTER 3: METHODS. 7

Case definitions and ascertainment 8

Demographic covariates 8

CHAPTER 4. RESULTS. 9

Table 1: Demographic Composition of COVID-19 Cases, Probable Cases, and Deaths in Georgia in 2021 14

Table 2a: Monthly COVID-19 Cases by Age in Georgia in 2021. 15

Table 2b: Monthly COVID-19 Cases by Sex in Georgia in 2021. 16

Table 2c: Monthly COVID-19 Cases by Race in Georgia in 2021. 17

Table 3a: Monthly Deaths due to COVID-19 by Age in Georgia in 2021. 18

Table 3b. Monthly Deaths due to COVID-19 by Sex in Georgia in 2021. 19

Table 3c. Monthly Deaths due to COVID-19 by Race in Georgia in 2021. 20

Figure 1a. Monthly Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Age in Georgia in 2021. 21

Figure 1b. Monthly Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Age in Georgia in 2021. 22

Figure 1d. Monthly Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Sex in Georgia in 2021. 24

Figure 1e. Monthly Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Race in Georgia in 2021. 25

Figure 1f. Monthly Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Race in Georgia in 2021. 26

Figure 2a. Monthly COVID-19 Deaths by Age in Georgia in 2021. 27

Figure 2b. Monthly COVID-19 Deaths by Age in Georgia in 2021. 28

Figure 2c. Monthly COVID-19 Deaths by Sex in Georgia in 2021. 29

Figure 2d. Monthly COVID-19 Deaths by Sex in Georgia in 2021. 30

Figure 2e. Monthly COVID-19 Deaths by Race in Georgia in 2021. 31

Figure 2f. Monthly COVID-19 Deaths by Race in Georgia in 2021. 32

CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION.. 33

CHAPTER 6. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 36

CHAPTER 7. REFERENCES 37

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