NHS data suggests people from black and minority backgrounds at more risk of life-threatening complications

LONDON April 8: Coronavirus patients from black and ethnic minority backgrounds may be at higher risk of suffering deadly complications of the disease, an NHS report suggests.
Despite making up just 13 per cent of the UK population, a third of patients who fall critically ill with COVID-19 are from black, Asian or minority ethnic (BME) groups.

The report, by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre, found 14 per cent were Asian, 14 per cent black and 7 per cent described themselves as other.

The study of 2,249 patients has raised fears non-white communities could suffer a disproportionate amount of deaths during the pandemic.

Members of ethnic minority communities are twice as likely to be affected by poverty, and are often hit the hardest by disease’.

Those living in poverty smoke and drink alcohol more and are more likely to be obese – all of which increase the likelihood of chronic health conditions.

Patients with pre-existing health troubles struggle to fight off COVID-19 before it causes deadly complications such as pneumonia.

Poor people are also more likely to use public transport more often and live in crowded houses – driving up their chance of catching and spreading the virus.

Anecdotal evidence has also suggested that ethnic minorities are more likely to fall seriously ill with the coronavirus.