CAPE TOWN - A recently published study conducted by the OpenSAFELY organisation in England outlines further factors increasing the chance of Covid-19 related deaths.
Covid-19 outbreak continues throughout the world with many countries yet to hit their peak in infections and while a vaccine is yet to complete development, researchers continue to learn more about the novel virus.
A study conducted by OpenSAFELY in England has collected data from over 17 million patients in efforts to learn more about contributing factors to deaths caused by Covid-19.
Over the course of the study, 17,278,392 adults data were anonymously collected with 10,926 of the recorded patients had died due to Covid-19 or faced related complications.
The study had found that "The overall cumulative incidence of death 90 days after study start was <0.01 percent in those aged 18-39 years, rising to 0.67 percent and 0.44 percent in men and women respectively aged ≥80 years."
The study goes on to point out that men face a higher risk than women with this becoming a pattern found in research across the world.
"All non-white ethnic groups had a higher risk than those with white ethnicity. Non-white ethnicity has previously been found to be associated with increased COVID-19 infection and poor outcomes."
"Our findings show that only a small part of the excess risk is explained by the higher prevalence of medical problems such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes among BME people, or higher deprivation."
The study also makes a mention of increased risk of death due to obesity and many other comorbidities contributing to severe outcomes, some of which are asthma, respiratory disease, chronic heart disease and liver disease.
Although the study shows comorbidities that we are already aware of, it too outlines the way in which the virus affects racial groups differently, especially those of colour which may face inequality and poverty.
The complete study report can be viewed here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2521-4_reference.pdf
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