Why BAME are more susceptible to coronavirus - expert explains impact of skin tone

According to the Office for National a, black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from the deadly coronavirus outbreak and last month, an independent public inquiry was launched. The Labour Party announced its own review into coronavirus impact on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

According to a study by Public Health England, they found “the highest age standardised diagnosis rates of COVID-19 per 100,000 population were in people of Black ethnic groups and the lowest were in people of White ethnic groups”.

It found people of Bangladeshi ethnicity had around twice the risk of death when compared to people of White British ethnicity.

While people of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, other Asian, Caribbean and other black ethnicity had between 10 and 50 percent higher risk of death when compared to white British.

Death rates were found to be higher for black and Asian ethnic groups compared to white ethnic groups.

Professor of Respiratory Infection and Immunity, Adrian Martineau, from University of London, believes vitamin D deficiency is commoner in the BAME community and is a contributing factor to why the community is more susceptible of catching the virus.

He told the Express.co.uk: “There are multiple pathways that could explain higher C-19 susceptibility in people with darker skin.

“Underlying conditions may mediate increased risk – for example, diabetes is commoner in South Asians, and hypertension commoner in black, African and Caribbean populations.

“Vitamin D deficiency may also be important – skin pigmentation (melanin) inhibits the ability of Ultraviolet B in the sun’s rays to stimulate vitamin D synthesis in the skin – consequently vitamin D deficiency is commoner in people of BAME origin.

READ MORE: PHE demands government action following BAME deaths inquiry

“We know that vitamin D is important in supporting antiviral immune responses, and in dampening down potentially harmful inflammatory responses.

“So low vitamin D levels in people with darker skin could contribute to their worse outcomes.”

Professor Martineau is currently undertaking a national research study looking at risk factors for COVID-19, with a focus on understanding why BAME people are at a higher risk.

While speaking to the Express.co.uk, Professor Martineau said there are socio-economic factors which would contribute to the number of BAME people with the virus.

DON'T MISS 
Coronavirus risk groups: Who is most at risk of falling ill from COVID [INSIGHT] 
Charlie Stayt clashes with Brandon Lewis in BAME infection row [OPINION]
BAME report in FULL: Read PHE’s report on BAME people and COVID-19 [REVEAL]

He believes the BAME community “more commonly” have lower incomes than white British people and said living conditions, such as overcrowding, could also be an example where COVID-19 could be transmitted.

Professor Martineau added: “Also people of BAME origin are over-represented among professions that involve higher occupational risk of exposure – health care workers and other frontline roles in public transport etc.”

The PHE study also confirmed Professor Martineau’s claims and said: “This could be the result of factors associated with ethnicity such as occupation, population density, use of public transport, household composition and housing conditions.”

This study also brought in issues of racism, discrimination and fear and claimed racial discrimination affect people’s life chances and the stress associated with being discriminated against based on their race affected mental and physical health.

The UK currently has the highest rate of deaths caused by COVID-19 across the whole of Europe and has surpassed more than 40,000.

Although the death rate is still considerably high, the UK government are moving forward with their plans to start easing lockdown restrictions as early as July 4 in order to get the economy moving again,.

However, Independent SAGE has warned the UK could see a further 30,000 deaths by the anniversary of the outbreak unless the government changes their strategy.

Christina Pagel, professor of operational research at University College London, said: "If we carry on with 100 to 150 deaths a day, that’s over 30,000 deaths."

Fears of a second wave were ignited this week after thousands of people flocked to beaches across the country to enjoy the heatwave.

Thousands of people were photographed ignoring social distancing guidance and young children were spotted despite parents raising concerns about social distancing in schools.