Comparison of the impact of ethnicity on clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients in the United Kingdom across two waves of the pandemic

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate an association between severity of COVID19 infection in hospitalized patients belonging to different ethnic backgrounds with various demographic data across two waves of the pandemic. Method(s)728 COVID19 patients admitted between April 2020 and March 2021 were retrospectively analysed. Result(s)295 patients(40.5%)were from ethnic minority groups(EMG). Severe COVID19 based on chest Xray scores were not significantly different among EMGs and whites. Intensive therapy unit(ITU)admissions was required in 12% of white patients compared to 20% of EMGs(p=0.001). Continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)was required in 22% vs 24%(p=0.12)and mechanical ventilation in 5% vs 10%(p=0.013)of whites and EMG patients,respectively. Mortality was significantly higher in White as compared to EMG(11% vs 6%;p=0.001). When the outcomes were compared between two waves(April-August 2020 and September 2020-March 2021)of COVID19,a significantly higher number of EMGs required CPAP support during first wave(5.3%vs2.6%;p=0.008)compared to second wave,where the difference was not significant(11.6%vs15.5%;p=0.465). Mortality was higher in whites as compared to EMGs during second wave(5.7%vs1.7%p=0.03). Conclusion(s) Although mechanical ventilation and ITU admission was higher among EMGs,the overall mortality was more in whites.