Researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado in the United States have described new factors influencing the severity of COVID-19, Annals of Internal Medicine published the results of their study.

The experts analyzed data from more than 2,300 patients who were hospitalized with a coronavirus infection between March and December 2020. The severity of COVID-19 was found to be influenced by a combination of social factors, such as the average income of the area where study participants lived, their level of education, and the density of the residential area.

Patients who lived in the poorest neighborhoods were more likely to have serious health consequences caused by the coronavirus. For example, they were more likely to have low blood oxygen levels and more likely to need a ventilator.

The study will help government agencies pay attention to neighborhoods in need and strengthen prevention and support measures for COVID-19 there, experts say.