All the doctors dying are Asian - what’s going on?

[MMXVi]

And why is nobody asking questions about this?

I’m over-invested in the answer because my sister is a doctor very much on the frontline, and we’re of Indian ethnicity. I want her to be protected and if she’s facing some sort of additional genetic, behavioural or dietary risk I want that flagged up to her and other doctors PDQ, not to mention their patients of the same ethnicity.

If I see another glib and possibly slightly racist response about BAME people being poorer and therefore more prone to underlying conditions I’ll flip my lid totally by the way. There’s a world of difference between an Asian hospital consultant on £150k in stockbrokerville and someone Asian on the breadline in an overcrowded council flat, and it isn’t helpful to lump them together in this instance.

So far, I’ve seen a thread about Vitamin D3 deficiency making darker-skinned people more susceptible to respiratory illness. That makes sense to me, and I’ve already ordered some from Amazon for my sister as well as the rest of our family.

My mother (not medically qualified) has a touching belief in the anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic powers of turmeric so I’m making daal as we speak.

My dad (retired very senior doctor and the veteran of more than one pandemic) says probably multi-factorial, but as he’s currently recovering from cancer and therefore very high risk, I’m not going to make him elaborate.

Any other ideas and theories?

Anyone else concerned about why the press have neglected to mention this glaringly obvious information?

I too was going to mention the genetic predisposition to diabetes and hypertension.
I hadn’t thought about the possibility of reduced lung capacity but that makes sense as does vitamin D deficiency.
Most likely a combination of all of these factors.
We live in a very ‘white-British area within the north west. My Asian husband feels alone within the community. Yet in both of our local hospitals there is a large proportion of Asian and African medical professionals. Could that also be a factor?

why on earth would you report this?

I didn't report it?

This has been discussed in radio 4 and bbc news today.

I think the overrepresentation of bame groups reflects the makeup of the medical professions, and others, not just doctors, nurses, carers, bus drivers.

I think it's the prevalence of BAME doctors in the UK quite simply. Corona hasn't conspired to only kill them, but a lot of doctors in London particularly are BAME. London has been hit harder, so it would make sense that more doctors in London would be hit. It's quite simple really.
If you were to look at the number of different races killed by this, in London for e.g., you'll find that the rate is the same.

To be fair to perniciousdot I think she meant that it had been reported on in the news.

Ah, yes that's what I meant. Then my post went wrong; poster too soon and I got distracted.

OP was asking why it hasn't been reported, I meant to say it had, and more but it's been covered now

I definitely did not report the thread. That can be checked with MNHQ I'm sure if necessary?

There's a big racial disparity in the US death figures, but over there Asians are the group least affected.

The other oddity is Hull, second lowest infection rate in the UK.

Why reported? Ethnicity is always important in medical research.

This is a concern in USA where african americans are suffering and dying more than other groups. I do wonder about vitamins.

Why reported? Ethnicity is always important in medical research.

I'm it wasn't reported. I meant this has been reported in the news.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/08/coronavirus-black-people-ethnic-minority-deaths-pandemic-inequality-afua-hirsch?CMP=fbgu&utmmmedium=Social&utmsource=Facebook#Echobox=1586388678

I think diabetics are not faring well in this epidemic, especially male over 60 diabetics and there will be a lot of drs in this category due to the propensity of SE Asian males to be more susceptible (genetically) to diabetes. Lots of other deaths, the underlying condition has been diabetes or hypertension, which are more common in these groups.

So sad though because of their dedication, they were actually more at risk, that's the same for all NHS workers I know, but especially this group.

My local hospital in London in about 80-90% BAME staff across all levels, as are neighbouring ones in North and East London. Tbh I’ve been bemused by the media portrayals of a white NHS, it’s not what I’m familiar with. It’s completely held up by BAME staff here, as is the transport service in London. Could it be part it due to being concentrated in cities and the diversity of staff? Particularly those working to an older age I meet are Asian here.

I hope that’s not offensive in my phrasing, but moving to England I’ve associated the NHS, and particularly consultants, with people from BAME backgrounds. I have always admired the intelligence and work ethic of the staff I’ve met and the work ethic of managing demanding shifts. Maybe there’s also a concentration in cities with trusts with awful levels of PPE available?

It’s not the whole explanation I know.

I did a lot of research on morbidity and mortality in different ethnic groups. There is a definite predisposition to certain conditions. I won't go into detail because my work was published, but it is really important to look at these things, especially in multi-ethnic communities because HCP need to be aware.

Hypertension is apparently a significant comorbidity as well. The accurate collection of information around this is so so important.

I wondered if there is some level of institutional racism which means BAME medical professionals are more likely to be put in risky situations without sufficient PPE. I have no idea whether that might be the case.

Jesus. Really?

What about Italy? I think something like 60+ doctors in Italy have died from it. I shouldn't think there are half so many Asian doctors working there as here in the UK. I could very well be wrong of course, I'm not an expert.

I think it might be genetic predisposition combined with the high number of Asian doctors we have, especially in urban areas. I'm Asian and I e been putting the DC's outside without sunscreen and giving them vitamin D tablets. I am also blood group A as is my dc1 andcthat is the higher risk blood group and a predisposition to diabetes. An unfortunate correlation of factors.

The same with the communities hit in America, a higher percentage of black people in crowded poorer city areas? Plus lacking insurance? Simply a disadvantage in social economic status rather than a medical issue?

It has been noted, and looked at. Nothing to do with poorer communities, or hotspots for higher numbers of Asian doctors etc. I wonder if it's a genetic link, in the same way Asian people have a much higher level of type 2 diabetes, unrelated to weight.

I hadn't noticed that. I don't believe the virus is a respecter of any person, look at all those who are not doctors who have died from it. Nurses, a paramedic and carers have also contracted and died and they are of all ethnicity.

It could happen to any of us, even an elderly reclusive, obsessively self isolating, woman like me.

Yes, the genetic link is significant.

I think it's the prevalence of BAME doctors in the UK quite simply. Corona hasn't conspired to only kill them, but a lot of doctors in London particularly are BAME

I only have experience of gyne and obstetrics at my local hospital and one other, but all the consultants in both hospitals are BAME, I don’t think it’s just London? We are rural S.W.

I did hear the discussion on R4 earlier and I think the conclusion was they don’t know why more BAME people (not just nhs staff) are dying, could be genetic predisposition to diabetes, or could be many other factors. But probably a mixture of all of them.

I don’t think the right stats are being reported to know.

The media keeps reporting % BAME medical staff deaths vs % BAME in the country as a whole.

I would be interested in % BAME medical staff deaths vs % BAME medical staff in that location (London & West Mids primarily).

I wondered this too and thought that the vitamin d thing might be a culprit. The extra time being spent indoors might be making things worse.

I've also been making everyone in the family eat turmeric, it is tasty even if it turns out to have no health benefits