Ethnicity and Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

November 12, 2020

Sze S, Pan D, Nevill CR, et al.

The Lancet EClinical Medicine

Sze et al. conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between ethnicity and clinical outcomes during the pandemic by searching databases for reports published between December 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020 on COVID-19 outcomes based on ethnicity. Outcomes of interest were risk of infection, intensive therapy unit (ITU) admission, and death. Of the sample population, 77% were White, 7% were Asian, 3% were Black, 8% were Hispanic, <1% were Native American, 2% were Mixed, and 3% were of Other ethnic groups. Compared to White individuals, Black and Asian Individuals had a higher risk of COVID-19 infection (pooled adjusted RR for Black: 2.02, 95% CI 1.67-2.44; pooled adjusted RR for Asian: 1.50, 95% CI 1.24-1.83). Additionally, this analysis shows Asians may be at a higher risk of ITU admission compared to White patients (pooled adjusted RR 1.97 95% CI 1.342.89) and death (pooled adjusted RR/HR 1.22 [0.991.50]); however, the authors recognize there were no studies included that assessed ITU admission risk among Asian cohorts. These findings provide information to inform interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality amongst ethnic minority groups.

Sze S, Pan D, Nevill CR, et al. Ethnicity and clinical outcomes in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2020; 0: 100630.

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