The FD reports this today. People with lower incomes, on the other hand, have a significantly higher risk of dying from corona. This also applies to Surinamese and Turks living in the Netherlands, according to a study by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) into corona mortality during the first corona wave at the beginning of last year, which ran until the end of June for this study.
The CBS emphasizes that the research only covers a short period, because the first corona wave only started in mid-March, so that relatively little data is available for an in-depth diagnosis and national analysis.
Until the end of June 2020, about 10,000 people died from the lung virus COVID-19, out of a total of 58,530 deaths, this means an excess mortality of 17 percent. Most corona deaths occurred, especially in the first weeks, in North Limburg and East Brabant, the Dutch ground-zero of the corona virus. The fewest deaths occurred in the three northern provinces. From the end of May and during the second and current wave, the number of deaths has been spread much more evenly across the country.
Income and assets
Statistics Netherlands has divided the country into five groups for income and assets. The lowest-income group, up to 70 years old and living at home, is three times more likely to die from the coronavirus than the highest-income group.
Over the age of 70, this decreases to twice. There is virtually no difference in mortality between income groups among people in poor health and therefore receiving long-term care.
Previous studies have already shown that people with lower incomes live on average less old than people with high incomes. This may have to do with lifestyle (food, smoking, exercise) and physically demanding work, for example. People with low incomes are also often less able to work from home and are therefore more vulnerable to the corona virus.
Migrants
In the period studied, more than 8,500 people with a Dutch background, 1042 with a Western migration background and 456 with a non-Western migration background (Africa, Latin America, almost all of Asia and Turkey) died.
Because the first wave started in East Brabant and North Limburg, where relatively fewer migrants live than in the big cities, for example, most people with a Dutch background were killed.
After the first three weeks, the groups with a migration background took relatively the upper hand. In particular, the group with a non-Western migration background was one and a half times more likely to die in the last weeks of the first corona wave than people of Dutch descent. This difference was mainly observed in the three major cities.
A possible explanation, according to Statistics Netherlands, is that diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity are more common in some migrant groups. As a result, infection with the corona virus more often has a serious course. Clear differences can be seen within the non-Western group of migrants. Relatively many Turks and Surinamese die, but fewer Moroccans and Antilleans.
More research needed
Statistics Netherlands does not want to draw any premature conclusions, particularly at the point of migration. After all, the numbers are low and in the initial phase of the corona outbreak, the even national distribution was not yet there.
Statistics Netherlands also wants to conduct extensive research into the relationship between socio-demographic differences and pre-existing diseases and conditions in people who die from corona. Cardiovascular diseases in particular often play a role in people who become ill from the corona virus.
Statistics Netherlands will also investigate the second corona wave. In the autumn of 2020, there were better facilities to identify infections with the corona virus. Better treatment methods were also available.
At the same time, the willingness to adhere to the corona measures seemed significantly lower during the second corona wave.
© MAROKKO.NL 2021
