A study based on data from more than 17 million British adults – the largest its kind – has identified the key risk factors that make some people more likely to die from Covid-19 than others.
The paper, which was published in the science journal Nature this week, analysed data on 17,278,392 adults from the UK's National Health Service over a three-month period. During that time, 10,926 of the participants died from Covid-19 related deaths.
The research aligns with previous, smaller studies that indicate age, race and deprivation are among the risk factors to succumbing to Covid-19.
“A lot of previous work has focused on patients that present at hospital,” said Dr Ben Goldacre of the University of Oxford, one of the researchers behind the study. “That’s useful and important, but we wanted to get a clear sense of the risks as an everyday person. Our starting pool is literally everybody.”
Here are 10 factors that were found to increase vulnerability to Covid-19:
Age
The study found that virus patients older than 80 were at least 20 times more likely to succumb to the disease than people in their 50s, and hundreds of times more likely to die than those below the age of 40.
Deprivation
A strong link was found between deprivation and increased morbidity.
Researchers believe that the mortality risk associated with living in poverty may increase over time.
Diabetes
Diabetes patients were found to be at higher risk, particularly those with poor control over blood sugar levels. Similar trends have been found in previous studies.
Severe asthma
Researchers found that people suffering with severe asthma, a form of the condition which requires treatment with oral corticosteroids, were more likely to die from Covid-19.
Those with severe asthma were more than double as likely to die from the disease compared with mild asthmatics.
Sex
Men who had contracted the virus had a higher likelihood of dying that women of the same age.
Other studies have also shown this, though experts are still unable to explain why this might be.
As the first major study that reviewed sex differences was in China, it was initially thought to be linked to smoking – as over half of Chinese men smoke while few Chinese women do.
But more recent studies have found the sex difference in different countries, suggesting that female biology – such as oestrogen and the X chromosome – could be behind the increased susceptibility for men.
Race
After removing other variables to focus solely on race and ethnicity, the Oxford University researchers found that non-white individuals – particularly black and South Asian people – were at higher risk of dying from Covid-19 than white patients.
The reasons for this were unclear, but previous research has indicated that this is because people of South Asian descent are more likely to suffer from diabetes than other ethnicities.
Obesity
Anyone with a body mass index (BMI) above 40 was found to be significantly more likely to die from the disease compared those with lower BMI scores.
Two previous studies in France and New York indicated that obese Covid-19 patients need more treatment.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly believed that his obesity was one of the reasons why he was rushed to hospital after he caught the virus.
Heart, kidney, liver and respiratory diseases
Having chronic diseases affecting any of these organs increase the liklihood of dying of Covid-19, researchers found.
The results agree with a study of hospitalised UK patients with the disease that indicated increased risk of death with cardiac, pulmonary and kidney disease, malignancy, obesity and dementia, and a large Chinese study which, though lacking age correction, suggested cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease, and cancers to be associated with increased mortality.
Stroke and dementia sufferers
The Oxford study found that those who had suffered a stroke and deterioration from dementia were likely to die from the coronavirus. The UK's Stroke Association warned on Thursday that it had to suspend three quarters of its funded research – amounting to £1.5 million (Dh7 million) – due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Compromised immune system
Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis were also found to increase the risk of dying from Covid-19.
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- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
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Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
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