Genetic Predisposition as a Substantial Determinant for the Disparity in COVID-19 Deaths Between Black and White Americans

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been ongoing since December 2019, causing severe impairment to both physical and mental health in people across the globe. Shortly after its introduction, SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease, revealed its high infectivity and virulence. According to the World Health Organization, there have been 500 million confirmed cases and six million deaths worldwide. In the U.S, there have been 81,178,013 confirmed cases and 990,599 deaths (World Health Organization, 2022). Even though the virus has impacted most of the global population in one way or another, not every community has been impacted equitably. There has been a significant disparity in the mortality rate between Black and White Americans since the pandemic spread to the U.S. This paper discusses various factors that contribute to the high infection and death rate in the Black community. It will delve into socioeconomic, historical, and emotional reasons. The paper also aims to suggest genetic traits that increase a Black person's susceptibility to COVID-19 based on a multitude of studies on biological differences between various races, emphasizing that although significant socioeconomic determinants exist, genetic predispositions are still involved in the COVID-19 racial disparity.