Incidence and severe outcomes from COVID-19 among immigrant and minority ethnic groups and among groups of different socio-economic status: A systematic review

• Main Authors: Vist, Gunn Elisabeth, Arentz-Hansen, Eva Helene, Vedøy, Tord Finne, Spilker, Ragnhild Anne Caroline Storste, Hafstad, Elisabet Vivianne, Giske, Liv
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Health Services 2021
• Subjects: Emigrants and Immigrants; Ethnic Groups; Minority Groups; Socioeconomic Factors; Denmark; Finland; Iceland; Norway; Sweden; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Prevalence; Severity of Illness Index; Hospitalization; Mortality; Systematic Review; Prevalens; Etniske grupper; Sykehusinnleggelse; De nordiske land; Skandinavia; Innvandrere; Sosioøkonomisk status; Systematisk oversikt; New Zealand; Prisma; Utfall
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2754026

Executive summary (English) Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the whole world, including the population of Norway. There have been reports that belonging to certain minority ethnic groups and groups of low socio-economic status may increase the risk of infection and severe outcome from COVID-19. Objective: In this systematic review we have summarised and assessed available research from Norway and countries with similar welfare systems on the incidence of COVID-19 infection, rate of admission to hospital and death during the COVID-19 pandemic. Populations of special interest were immigrants and minority ethnic group as well as people with different socioeconomic status. Method: Our inclusion criteria were: Population: Minority ethnic groups, populations with different socio-economic status, people living in deprived areas. Exposure: The COVID19 pandemic. Comparison: No limitation. Outcome: Incidence of COVID-19, admission to hospital for COVID-19, admission to intensive care unit for COVID-19, need for use of ventilator for COVID-19, mortality for COVID-19. Study design: Systematic reviews and primary studies. Setting: Our analysis included studies conducted in Norway and other similar Nordic welfare states: Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. We also included studies from countries with welfare systems closely resembling the Nordic model: Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Studies from countries with welfare systems with some features resembling the Nordic model was presented in tables: Australia, Germany, Great Britain and Ireland. Literature search: We searched for relevant literature in the End-Note database for the NIPH live map of COVID-19 evidence on November 30th 2020, and for grey literature in selected web pages in Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden on December 10th 2020. Inclusion of studies were performed according to the PRISMA-rules. Due to heterogeneity in time frame of sampling, the difference in covariates adjusted for in different studies, and ...