The incidence of COVID-19-related hospitalisation in migrants in the UK: Findings from the Virus Watch prospective community cohort study

Wing Lam Erica Fong; Vincent G Nguyen; Rachel Burns; Yamina Boukari; Sarah Beale; Isobel Braithwaite; Thomas E Byrne; Cyril Geismar; Ellen Fragaszy; Susan Hoskins; Jana Kovar; Annalan MD Navaratnam; Youssof Oskrochi; Parth Patel; Sam Tweed; Alexei Yavlinsky; Andrew C Hayward; Robert W Aldridge

Journal of Migration and Health (Jan 2024)

The incidence of COVID-19-related hospitalisation in migrants in the UK: Findings from the Virus Watch prospective community cohort study

Wing Lam Erica Fong,
Vincent G Nguyen,
Rachel Burns,
Yamina Boukari,
Sarah Beale,
Isobel Braithwaite,
Thomas E Byrne,
Cyril Geismar,
Ellen Fragaszy,
Susan Hoskins,
Jana Kovar,
Annalan MD Navaratnam,
Youssof Oskrochi,
Parth Patel,
Sam Tweed,
Alexei Yavlinsky,
Andrew C Hayward,
Robert W Aldridge

Affiliations

Wing Lam Erica Fong: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Vincent G Nguyen: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK; Department of Population, Policy and Practice, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
Rachel Burns: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Yamina Boukari: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Sarah Beale: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
Isobel Braithwaite: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Thomas E Byrne: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Cyril Geismar: Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
Ellen Fragaszy: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Susan Hoskins: Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
Jana Kovar: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Annalan MD Navaratnam: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
Youssof Oskrochi: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Parth Patel: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Sam Tweed: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Alexei Yavlinsky: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
Andrew C Hayward: Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
Robert W Aldridge: Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9
p. 100218

Abstract

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Background: Migrants in the United Kingdom (UK) may be at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure; however, little is known about their risk of COVID-19-related hospitalisation during waves 1–3 of the pandemic. Methods: We analysed secondary care data linked to Virus Watch study data for adults and estimated COVID-19-related hospitalisation incidence rates by migration status. To estimate the total effect of migration status on COVID-19 hospitalisation rates, we ran mixed-effect Poisson regression for wave 1 (01/03/2020–31/08/2020; wildtype), and mixed-effect negative binomial regressions for waves 2 (01/09/2020–31/05/2021; Alpha) and 3 (01/06/2020–31/11/2021; Delta). Results of all models were then meta-analysed. Results: Of 30,276 adults in the analyses, 26,492 (87.5 %) were UK-born and 3,784 (12.5 %) were migrants. COVID-19-related hospitalisation incidence rates for UK-born and migrant individuals across waves 1–3 were 2.7 [95 % CI 2.2–3.2], and 4.6 [3.1–6.7] per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Pooled incidence rate ratios across waves suggested increased rate of COVID-19-related hospitalisation in migrants compared to UK-born individuals in unadjusted 1.68 [1.08–2.60] and adjusted analyses 1.35 [0.71–2.60]. Conclusion: Our findings suggest migration populations in the UK have excess risk of COVID-19-related hospitalisations and underscore the need for more equitable interventions particularly aimed at COVID-19 vaccination uptake among migrants.

Published in Journal of Migration and Health

ISSN: 2666-6235 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine; Political science: Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-migration-and-health

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