BLACK people are nearly twice as likely to die of coronavirus than white people, figures show — but doctors are struggling to explain why.
The higher rate emerged in Office for National Statistics research after factors such as poverty and lifestyle were removed.
Black men and women were shown to be 1.9 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than their white counterparts.
When deaths linked to underlying health conditions, age, wealth and occupation were included, the increased risk compared with whites soared to 4.4 times in black men and 4.3 in black women.
And people of Bangladeshi and Pakistani, Indian and mixed ethnicities have almost the same increased risk of death compared with white people.
It means researchers believe ethnic minorities may be genetically more vulnerable to the virus.
Professor Liam Smeeth, who has led separate research into the issue, said: “Genetic factors could also play a part and it’s worth studying in terms of preventative measures and treatments.”
But he added: “Complex health problems very rarely have simple answers.
“The very substantially increased risk of dying among BAME groups is likely to have a complex combination of reasons.”
Researchers had expected to find a difference in death rates between races.
It was suspected that ethnic minorities were more likely to die because they tended to be poorer, live in overcrowded homes and work in frontline jobs.
But the ONS statistics show that is far from the only explanation.
Its figures chime with separate research from Prof Smeeth and colleagues at Oxford University and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
They analysed NHS data from 17.4million people between February 1 and April 25, including 5,707 deaths involving Covid-19 — making it the largest study of its kind in the world.
Professor Smeeth said: “We are seeing much higher rates of death among black and ethnic minority groups. We are keen to find out what is driving this so we know what to do about it.
“One possibility is that they have much higher rates of underlying conditions like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure — but we found this is only a very small part of the explanation.
“While they are factors, they explain very little about the increased risk among the BAME groups.
“It could be the risk of exposure, the risk of becoming infected, or it could be that BAME people are working in higher-risk occupations.”
The scientists also noticed those considered morbidly obese — with a BMI over 40 — are three times more likely to die.
Researcher Professor Ben Goldacre said: “Obesity wasn’t previously well identified as a major risk factor. Hopefully, our findings will inform future decisions about who is included in the ‘at risk’ group.”
By Trevor Phillips, Former equality chief
THEY say that viruses don’t discriminate.
But the faces of those who have died saving lives of others in this pandemic — doctors, nurses, hospital porters — tell a different story.
What is especially dangerous about this virus is we don’t know why it doles out its grisly rations so unevenly.
It would be easy to imagine this is the product of some kind of biological difference. But so far evidence shows it hits Caribbean people at least twice as hard as our African cousins – and we share many of the same genes.
Some have jumped to the conclusion that people of colour are likely to be poorer and live in crowded districts.
But the virus has affected well-paid surgeons from spacious suburbs as well as low-paid cleaners in tower blocks.
Analysis of over 12,500 deaths showed Black Caribbean Britons are three times as likely to die as those Brits of Bangladeshi heritage. Scientists studying the problem aren’t helped by overly sensitive authorities making it impossible to keep detailed info on ethnic communities, for fear of being called racist.
But this isn’t just an issue for people of colour. Leaving any vulnerable group untreated isn’t just a threat to them – it risks creating a pool from which the virus can rise again to strike everyone.
I pray that we find an answer soon.
They also found that people become more vulnerable to the virus the older they get and men were twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than women.
However, the research did not show an expected increase in deaths among people with asthma.
Doctors believe the steroid inhalers used to treat the lung condition may protect against Covid-19.
Some scientists believe BAME people may be more vulnerable as their lungs have higher levels of a protein called ACE-2, which the virus locks on to, giving it easier entry into the body’s cells.
It is hoped ACE inhibitor drugs, commonly taken for high blood pressure, may help treat Covid-19.
Tim Elwell-Sutton, of the Health Foundation, said: “This is a complex issue. Social inequalities are likely to be playing a significant role. But even after taking these things into account, black and minority ethnic groups are still at higher risk.
“Many key workers will not have had the option of working from home and may have had to continue using public transport, exposing them to higher risk of infection.”
Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said: “Action must be taken to protect black men and women — as well as people from all backgrounds — from the virus.”
London mayor Sadiq Khan called for ethnicity to be recorded on death certificates so the true toll on BAME communities could be tracked more easily.
He said: “We need to fully expose the effect it is having on our communities, have honest conversations about what is behind it, why it is happening and work hard to tackle these problems.”
A spokesman for the ONS said: “These results show the difference between ethnic groups in Covid-19 mortality is partly a result of socio-economic disadvantage and other circumstances but a remaining part of the difference has not yet been explained.”
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