The UK physician workforce: One-third at increased risk of death from COVID-19

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Abstract

Introduction 21% of NHS staff are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds yet account for a disproportionately high number of medical-staff deaths from COVID-19. Using data from the published OpenSAFELY Collaborative, we analysed consultant physicians to determine those at increased risk of COVID-19 related death. Methods Data from 13,500 consultant physicians collected by the Royal College of Physicians were analysed to determine those at an increased risk of death from COVID-19, assuming no comorbidities. Results The data reveal a picture in which a third of consultant physicians have a hazard ratio (HR) >1 for dying from COVID-19; one in five have HR >2; one in 11, HR >3; and one in 40, HR >4. Of concern are the risks to male physicians aged ≥60 with HR >3.8. Sub-specialties including cardiology, endocrine and diabetes, gastroenterology, haematology, neurology and rheumatology have a greater risk profile due to high proportion of men, physicians of older age, and proportion of BAME individuals. Conclusion A third of consultant physicians have an increased risk of a COVID-19-related death, and one in five have a higher relative risk (HR >2). The risk is mainly driven by age, gender, and ethnicity, the risk is highest in male consultant physicians over 60, especially from BAME backgrounds.

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APA

Verma, A. M., Goddard, A. F., O’Donoghue, D., Newbery, N., Phillips, C., & Trudgill, N. (2021). The UK physician workforce: One-third at increased risk of death from COVID-19. Clinical Medicine, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London, 21(2), E161–E165. https://doi.org/10.7861/CLINMED.2020-0756

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