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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
February 26, 2023
Asian, black and white populations do not have the same risk of dying. Indeed, many disparities in mortality exist. Dr. Kierzek’s explanations on the subject.
Are we all equal in the face of death? No, according to researchers. Our ethnic origins, like environmental factors, would determine our mortality risks. The results of this study are available in the journal PLOS.
Survival characteristics according to ethnic origin?
To reach these conclusions, the researchers analyzed data from 490,610 Asian, black and white participants from the UK Biobank – a large survey conducted in the UK between 2006 and 2010.
The genetic background, biological samples and health profile of the participants were uploaded and these data were prioritized, based on death records.
The “Kaplan-Meier” method was then used to assess survival differences between ethnic groups.
This consists of a random selection of “survival characteristics” and makes it possible to estimate the impact of the “shared” and “specific” mortality risk factors of each population.
Result ? Overall, the white ethnic group had a higher all-cause mortality rate than the Asian and black populations.
For their part, Asian and black women had a lower mortality risk than Asian and black men.
Certain causes of death were also more frequent in certain ethnic groups: Asians died more from ischemic heart disease, black populations from Covid-19 and whites from cancers of the respiratory or intrathoracic organs.
Another notable finding of the study: mental disorders and various addictions (drug addiction, anxiety, depression) hit the Asian group more.
As a result, “these findings underscore the importance of population-specific studies to decompose health disparities and inform targeted interventions toward greater health equity“, say the researchers.
Very real ethnic disparities
If, in France, ethnic statistics are not authorized, ethnic disparities in terms of mortality are very real.
“They are explained by genetic, epigenetic and environmental differences that may or may not correct themselves over time: an Asian person living in Asia will not, for example, have the same mortality risks as an Asian person living in Europe.“, says Dr. Kierzek.
Another significant example:
“In the emergency department, experience has shown that Indian, Pakistani and Asian populations are particularly at risk of early heart attacks. Increased vigilance of these patients is therefore essential.“, says the medical director of Doctissimo, before adding “This study finally confirms what we already know“.