Correlation of Racial Effect with Severity of Disease and In‐Hospital Outcome in Individuals Diagnosed with COVID‐19

Alotaibi, Abdullah Rashid; Ezzeldin, Tarek; Siddiqui, Intisar Ahmed; Alzahrani, Mosa Saeed; Alghamdi, Mohammed Ahmed; Alotaibi, Wijdan Hasan; Almutairi, Malik Zwaid; Alqannas, Naif Khalid

INTRODUCTION: Many countries have diverse population and hence, studies have been conducted to find the relation between ethnic or racial groups within a society and incidence or mortality due to COVID‐19. OBJECTIVES: Aim of the study was to evaluate the racial effect on severity of disease and in‐hospital outcome in individuals diagnosed with COVID‐19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study based on records of 804 tested positive COVID‐19 patients presented at Dammam Medical Complex and Braira quarantine during March to May 2020 was conducted after approval from the ethical board. Patient’s records included the routine patient’s consent statement about explanation of all the investigations and procedures prior to be performed. Data were retrieved included in analysis were age, gender, country of origin, racial background (Arab, Caucasian, Asian, Black, Latin, and Hispanic), severity of COVID‐19 and outcome. RESULTS: Out of total 804 confirmed patients of covid‐19, there were 647 (80.5%) males and 157 (19.5%) females (M: F ratio = 4.1: 1). Male preponderance was seen in all racial groups, and significantly higher in Asian than the Middle Eastern race (91.2% vs. 70.3%, p=0.000). Mean age of Asians was significantly higher than the mean age of the Middle Eastern and Black & Caucasian races (42.8±10.0 vs. 39.6±16.3 vs. 37.0±10.3, p=0.003). proportion of deaths was significantly high among Asians (5.4%) compare to Middle Eastern patients (1.2%) (p‐value 0.001). CONCLUSION: Severity and in‐hospital outcome were varying significantly among the racial groups. East & South Asian COVID‐19 patients had more severe symptoms and less recovery rate compare to other groups, late presentation may be a contributory reason.