Vanthomme et al. calculated age-standardized all-cause mortality rates (ASMRs) during the first COVID-19 wave (weeks 11–20 in 2020) and compared these with ASMRs during weeks 11–20 in 2019 to calculate excess mortality by migrant origin, age and gender. For both years, relative inequalities were calculated by migrant group using Poisson regression, with and without adjustment for sociodemographic and socioeconomic indicators.

Among the middle-aged, ASMRs revealed increased mortality in all origin groups, with significant excess mortality for Belgians and Sub-Saharan African men. At old age, excess mortality up to 60% was observed for all groups. In relative terms, most male elderly migrant groups showed higher mortality than natives, as opposed to 2019 and to women. Adding the control variables decreased this excess mortality.

The analyses have been published in SSM - Population Health: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100797

The results have been summarized in a press release: https://press.vub.ac.be/pandemic-hits-people-with-migration-background-harder