According to a new study, Hispanics have a higher risk of serious COVID-19 disease, including ICU death and death, than non-Hispanic whites.

The risk is particularly high in patients who are both black and Hispanic.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 78,000 COVID-19 patients reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between April 5 and May 18, 2020.

The analysis compared hospitalization, ICU admissions, respiratory support needs and death rates for several Hispanic subgroups.

Black Hispanics had the highest rate of concurrent health problems at 51% and the highest rate of hospitalization at 45%. Hispanic/multiracial patients were more frequently admitted to intensive care – 10% – and had the highest incidence of needing mechanical ventilation – 10%. They also had higher mortality rates due to COVID-19 – 16%.

Overall, Hispanics had a higher risk of death than patients who were Caucasian and non-Hispanic, as the results showed.

Compared with non-Hispanic whites, the risk of death was 1.36 times higher for Hispanic whites, 1.68 times higher for multiracial Hispanics, and 1.72 times higher for Hispanic blacks.

The results were published online in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.