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Explaining ethnic disparities in COVID-19 mortality: population-based, prospective cohort study
G David Batty1, Bamba Gaye2, Catharine R Gale3,4
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK.
Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
|February 10, 2021
Summary
Black and Asian individuals faced significantly higher COVID-19 mortality risks compared to White individuals. Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors partially explained these ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Ethnic disparities in COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) hospitalizations and mortality are documented, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- The UK Biobank prospective cohort study provides a robust dataset for investigating these health inequalities.
Approach:
- Utilized UK Biobank data from 448,664 participants (2006-2010) linked to national mortality records.
- Analyzed COVID-19 mortality (354 deaths by September 2020) in relation to ethnic background.
- Adjusted for baseline comorbidities, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors to assess residual risk.
Key Points:
- Black participants showed approximately seven times the risk of COVID-19 mortality compared to White participants.
- Asian participants had double the risk of COVID-19 mortality relative to White participants.
- After controlling for known factors, 53% of the risk differential for Asian individuals and 27% for Black individuals remained unexplained.
Conclusions:
- Significant residual risk for COVID-19 mortality persists in ethnic minority groups.
- Unmeasured factors, potentially including genetic predispositions or racial discrimination, may contribute to these disparities.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex drivers of ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 outcomes.
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