COVID-19 in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic populations: An evidence review and recommendations

Our colleagues at the South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF) have developed new recommendations to protect Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities from the disproportionate impact of COVID-19. The recommendations have been issued to help “close the gap” in health inequality and are based on the most updated evidence

This review provides an overview of the current evidence on ethnic inequalities in the impact of COVID-19, and discusses potential explanatory factors for these observations. Critically, it makes much needed recommendations to protect Black, Asian and Minority BAME individuals both in the general population and in key worker roles.

Current evidence suggests marked ethnic inequalities in the risk of hospitalisation and adverse outcome from COVID-19 infection. The available evidence also shows marked ethnic inequalities in the risk of death from COVID-19. Black and South Asian individuals appear at greatest risk, although most BAME groups have been shown to have increased risk when compared to White ethnic groups.

The report was led by Leicester Diabetes Centre Co-Director Professor Kamlesh Khunti in collaboration with the Centre for BME Health and the Leicester Diabetes Centre who supported producing the illustrations and infographics.

The report can be accessed at: https://www.sahf.org.uk/covid19