# Assessing the Variation in COVID-19 Severity Among the Different Nationalities Living in Qatar

## TL;DR

This study examines how the severity of COVID-19 varies among different nationalities in Qatar, finding significant differences linked to vaccination status.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how nationality correlates with the severity of COVID-19 and highlights disparities in health outcomes.

## Key findings

- Eastern Mediterranean nationalities had the highest disease severity at 40%.
- Vaccination status was significantly correlated with disease severity.
- Southeast Asian and Western Pacific groups showed lower severity rates compared to Eastern Mediterranean groups.

## Abstract

Background

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and it has resulted in a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in numerous reports on clinical outcomes and risk factors associated with morbidity and mortality. However, the extent to which nationality influences the severity of COVID-19 is not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to explore disparities in COVID-19 severity among individuals of different nationalities in Qatar.

Methods

This is a retrospective study. Secondary data were obtained from the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar. Patients of different nationalities were categorized into different groups based on the WHO regional classification, and the severity of COVID-19 across these groups was analyzed.

Results

Data were obtained for 96,728 patients. This study found a statistically significant difference in disease severity among nationalities. The highest number of patients were from the Eastern Mediterranean group (42.3%), followed by Southeast Asia (39.4%). The severity of COVID-19 was highest among the Eastern Mediterranean groups (40%), followed by those from Southeast Asia (38.5%) and the Western Pacific (12.4%). There was a significant correlation between disease severity and vaccination status.

Conclusion

The findings of this study provide novel perspectives on the severity of COVID-19 among individuals of various nationalities. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of healthcare interventions to address disparities in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality within these groups. The results of this study provide a useful foundation for developing approaches to prevent and manage pandemics more effectively and reduce the number of cases and fatalities during future health crises.