Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambulatory Pediatric Cardiology Care by Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status.

Objective: To determine racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status differences in access to ambulatory pediatric cardiology before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study design: Differences in completion of cardiology clinic visit of patients aged 0-18 years scheduled March 13, 2019, to March 12, 2021, were examined by race, ethnicity, and Childhood Opportunity Index (COI). Visits were categorized as completed, delayed (completed within 6 months), or incomplete (no visit within 6 months). Comparisons were made between prepandemic and pandemic time points (March 2020, pandemic onset; April 2020, volume nadir; July 2020, volume recovery). Results: Patients who were non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and living in very low COI areas had greater incomplete visit rates before and during the pandemic compared with patients who were non-Hispanic White and those living in very high COI areas. Patients who were Hispanic had more incomplete visits during pandemic nadir and recovery compared with prepandemic ( Conclusions: We saw statistically greater incomplete visit rates for patients who were Hispanic and those from lower COI areas preceding and during the pandemic. The pandemic did not exacerbate these disparities. Efforts to improve access to care are needed for at-risk populations.