Inequalities in COVID-19 deaths by migration background during the first wave, interwave period and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a closed cohort study of 17 million inhabitants of the Netherlands

Background It is not known how differences in COVID-19 deaths by migration background in the Netherlands evolved throughout the pandemic, especially after introduction of COVID-19 prevention measures targeted at populations with a migration background (in the second wave). We investigated associations between migration background and COVID-19 deaths across first wave of the pandemic, interwave period and second wave in the Netherlands. Methods We obtained multiple registry data from Statistics Netherlands spanning from 1 March 2020 to 14 March 2021 comprising 17.4 million inhabitants. We estimated incidence rate ratios for COVID-19 deaths by migration background using Poisson regression models and adjusted for relevant sociodemographic factors. Results Populations with a migration background, especially those with Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese background, exhibited higher risk of COVID-19 deaths than the Dutch origin population throughout the study periods. The elevated risk of COVID-19 deaths among populations with a migration background (as compared with Dutch origin population) was around 30% higher in the second wave than in the first wave. Conclusions Differences in COVID-19 deaths by migration background persisted in the second wave despite introduction of COVID-19 prevention measures targeted at populations with a migration background in the second wave. Research on explanatory mechanisms and novel prevention measures are needed to address the ongoing differences in COVID-19 deaths by migration background.

Automated summary

By studying the association between migration background and COVID-19 deaths in the Netherlands, it was found that populations with a migration background were more likely to die from COVID-19 throughout the pandemic compared to the Dutch origin population, with the differences becoming larger in the second wave. Despite the introduction of COVID-19 prevention measures targeted at populations with a migration background, the higher risk of COVID-19 deaths persisted in the second wave.