Unequal deaths
The risk of dying with coronavirus is higher for those from ethnic groups
THE coronavirus outbreak is highlighting and exacerbating inequalities, leaving Black and minority ethnic people at a significantly higher risk of dying from Covid-19. Black men are 3.3 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than white men, while it’s 2.4 times higher for Black women, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show.
People of Bangladeshi and Pakistani, Indian, and mixed ethnicities also had a higher risk of dying with coronavirus.
Men in the Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic groups were 2.5 times more likely to die for the virus. The figure for women was two times higher than their white counterparts.
Black and minority ethnic people were also admitted to intensive care with Covid-19 at higher rates - a study in April by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre found 35% of patients in intensive care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were non-white. The group makes up 14% of the UK population as a whole.
Part of the reason for higher rates of deaths could be that Black and minority ethnicity people are more likely to be in higher risk groups, such as having underlying health problems or living in deprived areas.
These differences reflect deeprooted underlying inequalities that the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and others, has said have been thrown into sharp focus and exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
After adjusting for those factors, the gap shrinks but Black men are still twice as likely to die as white men, men of Bangladeshi or Pakistani and Indian ethnic background are one-and-a-half times more likely to die, and Black women 1.4 times more likely to die.
The ONS also found ethnic differences are more pronounced among the groups that are at lower risk of dying of COVID-19.
For example, Black men living in non-deprived areas are 2.3 times more likely to die than their white counterparts, while for those in deprived areas that gap is 1.8 times.
A study this month by Public Health England (PHE) said historical racism and discrimination could be behind the higher death rates in England.
It said historical racism may make black and minority ethnicity people less likely to seek care when needed or, as NHS staff, to speak up when they have concerns about personal protective equipment (PPE) or increased risk.
Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive at the Health Foundation, said the report summarised the shock and dismay being felt in black and minority ethnic communities.
She said: “We welcome Public Health England’s report and their recommendation of a properly funded strategy to tackle the wider circumstances in which people live – including education, job opportunities, working conditions and housing.
“However, the report makes no specific recommendation on tackling entrenched discrimination and racism.
“Black and minority ethnic communities speak loudly in this report and say discrimination is among the fundamental causes of ill-health. They should be listened to.
“We have seen many commissions make recommendations on racial equality in the past. Now is the time for further concrete action, beginning with the government.”