Ethnicity and COVID-19: investigating the determinants of excess risk in UK Biobank

What is the problem? People from minority ethnic groups seem to be disproportionally affected by COVID-19, particularly South Asian and Black and African Caribbean communities. What has been done so far? National datasets have shown that minority ethnic groups are up to 4 times more likely to die from COVID-19. However, the reason for this increased risk is not known. What are we going to do? We will use a large dataset, called UK Biobank, which has been linked to national COVID-19 data. Within this dataset, we will use statistical modelling to examine whether the increased risk in minority ethnic groups is explained by differences in underlying health status, lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity, and environmental factors such as air pollution or measures of social inequality. Why is this important? This work will start to unpick why minority ethnic groups may be at increased risk and whether this increased risk is spread equality across the population. For example, is the increased risk explained by a higher burden of other diseases such as heart disease or diabetes or by living in more polluted areas? Do otherwise healthy individuals from minority ethnic groups still have an increased risk? Addressing these question will help inform public health priorities and actions.