Biochemical abnormalities in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a comparison of White vs. ethnic minority populations in the U.K.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biochemical abnormalities in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a comparison of White vs. ethnic minority populations in the U.K.

AU - Taylor, David R

AU - Buchanan, Devon

AU - Al-Hasani, Wiaam

AU - Kearney, Jessica

AU - Mazaheri, Tina

AU - Ranasinghe, Ruvini N.K

AU - Dimitriadis, Georgios K

AU - Vincent, Royce

PY - 2021/5/1

Y1 - 2021/5/1

N2 - Aims: Public Health England have identified that in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), death rates amongst ethnic minorities far exceeds that of the White population. Whilst the increase in ethnic minorities is likely to be multi-factorial; to date, no studies have looked to see whether values for routine clinical biochemistry parameters differ between ethnic minority and White individuals. Methods: Baseline biochemical data for 22 common tests from 311 SARs-CoV-2 positive patients presenting to hospital in April 2020 in whom ethnicity data was available was retrospectively collected and evaluated. Data comparisons between ethnic minority and White groups were made for all patient data and for the subset of patients subsequently admitted to intensive care.Results: When all patient data were considered, the ethnic minority population had statistically significant higher concentrations of CRP, AST and GGT, whilst troponin T was higher in the White group. A greater proportion of ethnic minority patients were subsequently admitted to intensive care, but when the presenting biochemistry of this subset of patients was compared, no significant differences were observed between ethnic minority and White groups. Conclusion: Our data show for the first time that routine biochemistry at hospital presentation in COVID-19 differs between ethnic minority and White groups. Amongst the markers identified, CRP was significantly higher in the ethnic minority group pointing towards an increased tendency for severe inflammation in this group.

AB - Aims: Public Health England have identified that in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), death rates amongst ethnic minorities far exceeds that of the White population. Whilst the increase in ethnic minorities is likely to be multi-factorial; to date, no studies have looked to see whether values for routine clinical biochemistry parameters differ between ethnic minority and White individuals. Methods: Baseline biochemical data for 22 common tests from 311 SARs-CoV-2 positive patients presenting to hospital in April 2020 in whom ethnicity data was available was retrospectively collected and evaluated. Data comparisons between ethnic minority and White groups were made for all patient data and for the subset of patients subsequently admitted to intensive care.Results: When all patient data were considered, the ethnic minority population had statistically significant higher concentrations of CRP, AST and GGT, whilst troponin T was higher in the White group. A greater proportion of ethnic minority patients were subsequently admitted to intensive care, but when the presenting biochemistry of this subset of patients was compared, no significant differences were observed between ethnic minority and White groups. Conclusion: Our data show for the first time that routine biochemistry at hospital presentation in COVID-19 differs between ethnic minority and White groups. Amongst the markers identified, CRP was significantly higher in the ethnic minority group pointing towards an increased tendency for severe inflammation in this group.

M3 - Article

SN - 0021-9746

JO - Journal of Clinical Pathology

JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology

ER -