COVID-19 and geographical area of origin

FF, Norman; Crespillo-Andújar, C.; Pérez-Molina, J.A.; B, Comeche; S, Chamorro; Monge-Maillo, B.; Moreno-Guillén, S.; López-Vélez, R.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the main clinical characteristics and outcome measures in hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 according to geographical area of origin. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 at a referral center in Madrid, Spain, during March-May 2020 was performed. Recorded variables (age, gender, ICU admission, outcome), and geographical area of origin were compared for Europeans and non-Europeans (Latin Americans, Asians and Africans). RESULTS: In total, 2345 patients with confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized during the study period were included in the study. Of these, 1956 (83. 4%) were Europeanand 389 (16. 6%) were non-European (over 90%, 354/389, were Latin American). Non-Europeans were significantly younger than Europeans (mean 54 [SD 13.5] vs 70.4 [SD 15.1] years, p<0.001); the majority of patients were male (1420/2345, 60.6%), with no significant differences in gender between Europeans and non-Europeans (1197/1956, 61.2% males in the European group vs 223/389, 57.3% males in the non-European group, p=0.15). In-hospital mortality overall was higher in Europeans (443/1956, 22.7%, vs 40/389, 10.3% in non-Europeans, p<0.001, but there were no significant differences when adjusted for age/gender (OR: 1.27, 95%CI 0.86-1.88). Non-Europeans were more frequently admitted to ICU (71/389, 18.3%) compared to Europeans (187/1956, 9.6%)(p<0.001) and a difference in ICU admission rate was also found when adjusted for age/gender (OR: 1.43, 95%CI 1.03-1.98). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences in mortality were observed between Europeans and non-Europeans (mainly Latin Americans), but an increase in ICU admission rate was found in non-Europeans.