Outcomes of COVID-19: disparities by ethnicity

Ali, H.; Alshukry, A.; Marafie, S. K.; AlRukhayes, M.; Ali, Y.; Bu Abbas, M.; Al-Taweel, A.; Bukhamseen, Y.; Dashti, M. H.; Al-Shammari, A.; Abu-farha, M.; Abubakr, J.; Al-Mulla, F.

Abstract Objectives To investigate the role of ethnicity in COVID-19 outcome disparities in a cohort in Kuwait. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of 405 individuals infected with SARS-CoV2 in Kuwait. Outcomes such as symptoms severity and mortality were considered. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to report the odds ratios (OR) for ICU admission and dying from COVID-19. Results The cohort included 290 Arabs and 115 South Asians. South Asians recorded significantly higher COVID-19 death rates compared to Arabs (33% vs. 7.6%, P value<0.001). When compared to Arabs, South Asians also had higher odds of being admitted to the ICU (OR = 6.28, 95% CI: 3.34-11.80, p < 0.001). South Asian patients showed 7.62 (95% CI: 3.62-16.02, p < 0.001) times the odds of dying from COVID-19. Conclusion COVID-19 patients with South Asians ethnicity are more likely to have worse prognosis and outcome when compared to patients with Arab ethnicity. This suggest a possible role for ethnicity in COVID-19 outcome disparities and this role is likely to be multifactorial.