This @bengoldacre paper is extraordinarily important.
Yes its a pre-print but its quite good. Read it. But I'll share a few high-level thoughts.
A thread
Yes its a pre-print but its quite good. Read it. But I'll share a few high-level thoughts.
A thread
Why is it so great?
This is a large cohort study
They begin with 17.4 Million people enrolled in primary care in the UK – and track them over time:
Their primary goal:
Who dies of COVID19?
The outcome was in-hospital death
And they are using clinical data from EHRs
2/n
This is a large cohort study
They begin with 17.4 Million people enrolled in primary care in the UK – and track them over time:
Their primary goal:
Who dies of COVID19?
The outcome was in-hospital death
And they are using clinical data from EHRs
2/n
So what are the key findings?
People who are older were more likely to die (no surprise)
Men nearly twice the risk of death as women (size of this effect surprised me)
Obesity, diabetes, and severe asthma all independent risk factors
Immunosupression also (no surprise)
3/6
People who are older were more likely to die (no surprise)
Men nearly twice the risk of death as women (size of this effect surprised me)
Obesity, diabetes, and severe asthma all independent risk factors
Immunosupression also (no surprise)
3/6
Interesting finding is that hypertension is NOT a risk factor.
Early studies suggested it might be. But now emerging data suggests its not an independent one. This paper helps solidify that.
4/6
Early studies suggested it might be. But now emerging data suggests its not an independent one. This paper helps solidify that.
4/6
Even in the UK, there is a large effect of race and SES.
Higher death rates for Asians, Blacks compared to whites
Higher death rates for low SES
These are NOT due to clinical factors
And UK has a single payer govt run system -- so that's no panacea for disparities
5/6
Higher death rates for Asians, Blacks compared to whites
Higher death rates for low SES
These are NOT due to clinical factors
And UK has a single payer govt run system -- so that's no panacea for disparities
5/6
So bottom line?
Biggest cohort study of COVID19 deaths to date
Some findings expected (age, male, diabetes)
Huge effects by race, ethnicity, and SES in the UK, not explained by clinical factors
We need to understand why disparities in death for COVID19 here and in UK
Fin
Biggest cohort study of COVID19 deaths to date
Some findings expected (age, male, diabetes)
Huge effects by race, ethnicity, and SES in the UK, not explained by clinical factors
We need to understand why disparities in death for COVID19 here and in UK
Fin
