Tim Dennell / Flickr cc
A study of more than 17 million adults in England adds to a large body of evidence indicating that, compared with White populations, racial minorities have borne a heavier burden of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and deaths.
Led by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and published late last week in
The Lancet, the observational study involved the electronic health records of patients registered with primary care practices during the pandemic s first (Feb 1 to Aug 3) and second (Sep 1 to Dec 31) wave in 2020.
Among the 17,288,532 community-dwelling adults representing about 40% of the English population, 62.9% were White, 5.9% were South Asian, 2.0% were Black, 1.0% were mixed race, 1.9% were of other race, and 26.3% didn t indicate their race.
Minority ethnic groups had higher risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and of COVID-19-related hospitalizations, intensive care (ICU) admissions and death compared with white groups in England, according to an observational study published in The Lancet.
Covid-19 outcomes in England ‘were worse for South Asians during second wave’
(Danny Lawson/PA)
South Asian communities in England experienced greater levels of Covid-19 infection, severe disease and death during the second wave when compared to other minority ethnic groups, according to scientists.
Researchers said that while disparities for hospital admissions and death improved for most minority ethnic groups between the first (February to September 2020) and the second wave (September to December 2020) of the pandemic, it widened for those from South Asian backgrounds.
The findings, published in the journal Lancet, are based on 17 million adults in England and is thought to be the largest study to date.
Largest study so far of more than 17 million adults in England confirms that minority ethnic groups had a higher risk of testing positive, hospitalisation, admission to intensive care units (ICU), and death from COVID-19 compared with white groups, even after accounting for other factors known to increase risk like deprivation, occupation, household size and underlying health conditions.
Saturday May 1, 2021, 9:19 AM
Research has found South Asian people in England were hit hardest by Covid during the second wave . Credit: PA
People of South Asian heritage in England were hit hardest by coronavirus, experiencing greater levels of infection, severe disease and death during the second wave compared to other ethnic minority groups, according to scientists.
Researchers said that while disparities for hospital admissions and death improved for most minority ethnic groups between the first (February to September 2020) and the second wave (September to December 2020) of the pandemic, it widened for those from South Asian backgrounds.
The findings, published in the journal Lancet, are based on 17 million adults in England and is thought to be the largest study to date.