Differential risk for COVID-19 in the first wave of the disease (February-April 2020) among migrants from several areas of the world living in Alcorcón (Spain): A population-based cohort study

Little is known regarding the relevance of racial / ethnic background on the risk of COVID-IO infection, particularly in Europe. We evaluated the risk for COVID-19 among migrants from different areas of the world within a context of universal free access to medical care. We conducted a population-based cohort analysis of the cumulative incidence of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 among adult residents at Alcorcón (Spain) in the first wave of the disease. The crude cumulative incidence among migrants (n=20419) was higher than among Spaniards (n=131599): 8.81 and 6.51 and per 1000 inhabitants respectively (p<0.001) but differed by world region of origin. By negative binomial regression, adjusted for age and sex, relative risks (RR) for COVID-19 were not significantly different from Spaniards for individuals from Europe, Asia or Northern Africa. In contrast, there was a marked increased risk for Sub-Saharan Africa (RR 3.66, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 42-9.41, p=0.007), Caribbean (RR6.35, 95% Cl 3.83-10.55, p<0.001) and Latin-America (RR6.92, 95% Cl 4.49-10.67, p <0.001). Migrants from these areas of the world may deserve a closer attention both for clinical and epidemiological reasons.