[ad_1]
The government was urged to recognize that racial and racial inequalities are a risk factor for Covid-19 after Guardian’s investigation that revealed that ethnic minorities in England are dying disproportionately high compared to whites.
The revelation that people from minority groups appear to be overrepresented among coronavirus deaths, by as much as 27%, “confirmed the worst fears” from activists who said there was now no question of an excessive number of victims.
The Guardian’s analysis found that of 12,593 patients who died in hospital until April 19, 19% were Black, Asian, and Ethnic Minority (BAME) despite these groups representing only 15% of the general population in England.
And the analysis revealed that three London boroughs with high BAME populations (Harrow, Brent and Barnet) were also among the five local authorities with the highest mortality rates in hospitals and the community.
The findings confirm suspicions raised by local reports, hospitalization rates, and evidence from other countries that minority groups face the highest risk. And they show for the first time that areas with high ethnic minority populations in England and Wales tend to have higher death rates.
While it is still unclear why communities with a proportionally larger number of BAME residents appear to be dying at higher rates, a public and ethnic health expert said social deprivation was the strongest indicator of mortality due to increased underlying burden of disease.
“There have been health inequalities that have existed in the [BAME] population, but what is reflected in this pandemic is that those inequalities are really coming out, “said Wasim Hanif, professor of diabetes and endocrinology at Birmingham University Hospital.
He added: “Deaths occur in relation to diabetes-related complications all the time, like cardiovascular disease and cancers, but they never made the headlines and that’s the effect we are seeing now.”
The findings, adding to separate concerns about the death rate among BAME healthcare workers, are based on two data sets and two batches of analysis. One was from the NHS and the deaths covered in English hospitals until April 19.
The findings are based on new figures from the Office or National Statistics that break down deaths by local authorities as of April 3, making it possible to compare deaths with data on pollution, age, deprivation, population density and BAME populations in England and Wales for the first time. hour.
A high proportion of BAME residents was found to be the strongest predictor of a high Covid-19 mortality rate.
The analysis shows that for every 10% increase in ethnic minority residents, there were 2.9 more Covid-19 deaths per 100,000 people.
The Guardian considered the influence of other factors, such as population density and age, that explained only part of the correlation between ethnicity and death rates.
Dr. Zubaida Haque, deputy director of the Runnymede Trust, said: “The Guardian’s analysis confirms our worst fears. We are already aware that people of color are much more likely to have a critical illness with Covid-19 than their white counterparts. But now we know that BAME people are also at a much higher risk of mortality with Covid-19. Covid-19 is highlighting existing racial inequalities. “
He added that the government had to recognize that racial and racial inequalities were a risk factor in Covid-19 and that it had to address disproportionate rates of poverty, insecurity and low-paid labor, which was also often borne by key workers. , in addition to the poorest conditions. and overcrowded housing, all of which put ethnic minorities much more at risk for Covid-19 infection.
“There is no longer any question about whether the BAME people are bearing the brunt of Covid-19; they clearly are. The question is whether the government sees these racial inequalities as a problem serious enough to do something about.”
The raw image painted by the investigation comes as health authorities are under increasing pressure to release data on Covid-19 BAME patient deaths, amid warnings that failure to do so could be life-threatening.
After a public outcry, the government begins publishing official statistics on ethnicity. On Monday, the NHS England released a breakdown of ethnic minority coronavirus deaths for the first time.
Based on that and from information provided to local authorities, it became known that the London boroughs of Harrow and Brent had the highest death rates, at approximately 37 and 32 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively.
In Harrow, 58% of residents are not white, while in Brent the figure is 64%. South Lakeland in Cumbria had the next highest death rate, with 29 deaths per 100,000. It is a largely white rural area and is somewhat atypical.
Dawn Butler, a Labor MP from Brent Central, described The Guardian’s findings as deeply troubling, adding: “It is a particularly emotional time because we are talking every day with families who have lost loved ones or who have loved ones in the hospital and they can’t go to see them.
“A serious price is being charged in a community where there is also an intergenerational life with groups of families: grandchildren, parents and children, all living in the same home.”
In addition to South Lakeland and Hertsmere, which is on the outskirts of London and borders Harrow and Barnet, the 10 areas with the highest death rates were all urban, and seven had higher-than-average BAME populations.
Because ethnic deaths are not compared to the local population, more research is required to identify the extent to which minority deaths are overrepresented. London and West Midlands accounted for 46% of deaths in the dataset. In London two out of five people belong to an ethnic minority, while in the West Midlands a fifth are not white.
The analysis is based on the first 5,186 Covid-19 deaths recorded on death certificates as of April 3 and reflects deaths in hospitals and in the community. As the data is continually updated, some areas of the data have low death counts and the results may change as more deaths are recorded.
The lack of further details on what shaped the government’s review was attacked by Shadow Equality Minister Marsha de Cordova, who called for an independent investigation into the impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities, to address the health, economic and social inequalities.
She said: “It is disappointing that the government has not yet committed to this and has not shared details of its work to date. This lack of transparency and action is risking lives. NHS and Public Health England must urgently publish the data they have, and the government must begin to address underlying socio-economic inequalities so that they are not exacerbated in the coming months. “
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Assistance said: “Any death from this disease is a tragedy and we are working incredibly hard, day and night, to protect the nation’s public health.”
Additional reports: Ben Quinn
