Risk of Covid-19 Severe Outcomes and Mortality in Migrants and Ethnic Minorities Compared to the General Population in the European WHO Region: a Systematic Review

• Published in: Journal of international migration and integration Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 1305 - 1335
• Main Authors: Mazzalai, Elena, Giannini, Dara, Tosti, Maria Elena, D’Angelo, Franca, Declich, Silvia, Jaljaa, Anissa, Caminada, Susanna, Turatto, Federica, De Marchi, Chiara, Gatta, Angela, Angelozzi, Aurora, Marchetti, Giulia, Pizzarelli, Scilla, Marceca, Maurizio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.09.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Administrative law; COVID-19; Data quality; Demography; Disadvantaged; Economic factors; Economic status; Economics; Ethnic factors; Ethnic groups; Ethnicity; Extraction; Health care access; Health disparities; Health services; Hospitalization; Impact analysis; Intensive care; Microelectromechanical systems; Migrants; Migration; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority groups; Mortality; Pandemics; Policy making; Population; Population Economics; Quality assessment; Quality control; Regions; Risk; Social determinants of health; Social factors; Social inequality; Social Sciences; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic status; Socioeconomics; Sociology; Susceptibility; Systematic review; Systemic racism; Ethnic minorities; Migrants; Covid-19; Europe; Severe outcomes; Health inequalities
• ISSN: 1488-3473; 1874-6365
• DOI: 10.1007/s12134-023-01007-x

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on migrants and ethnic minorities (MEMs). Socio-economic factors and legal, administrative and language barriers are among the reasons for this increased susceptibility. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on MEMs compared to the general population in terms of serious outcomes. We conducted a systematic review collecting studies on the impact of Covid-19 on MEMs compared to the general population in the WHO European Region regarding hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality, published between 01/01/2020 and 19/03/2021. Nine researchers were involved in selection, study quality assessment and data extraction. Of the 82 studies included, 15 of the 16 regarding hospitalisation for Covid-19 reported an increased risk for MEMs compared to the white and/or native population and 22 out of the 28 studies focusing on the ICU admission rates found an increased risk for MEMs. Among the 65 studies on mortality, 43 report a higher risk for MEMs. An increased risk of adverse outcomes was reported for MEMs. Social determinants of health are among the main factors involved in the genesis of health inequalities: a disadvantaged socio-economic status, a framework of structural racism and asymmetric access to healthcare are linked to increased susceptibility to the consequences of Covid-19. These findings underline the need for policymakers to consider the socio-economic barriers when designing prevention plans.