The role of the social vulnerability index in personal protective equipment shortages, number of cases, and associated mortality during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Michigan skilled nursing facilities.

ABSTRACT

The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is used to stratify community need for support during disasters. We evaluated relationships between the SVI and personal protective equipment shortages, COVID-19 caseload, and mortality rates in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). In SVI quartile 4, personal protective equipment shortages were 2.3 times those in SNFs in quartile 1; COVID-19 case loads were 1.6 times those of SNFs in quartile 1; and mortality rates in were 1.9 times those of SNFs in SVI quartile 1.