Differential risk for COVID-19 in the first wave of the disease among Spaniards and migrants from different areas of the world living in Spain

Abstract Introduction and objectives Little is known regarding the relevance of racial/ethnic background to the risk for COVID-19 infection, particularly in Europe. We evaluated the risk of COVID-19 among migrants from different areas of the world within the context of universal free access to medical care. Materials and methods We conducted a population-based cohort analysis of the cumulative incidence of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 among adult residents of Alcorcon (Spain) in the first wave of the disease up to April 25, 2020. Results The crude cumulative incidence among migrants (n = 20419) was higher than among Spaniards (n = 131599): 8.81 and 6.51 and per 1000 inhabitants, respectively (p  Conclusions Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America exhibited increased risk for COVID-19 as compared to Spaniards or migrants from Europe, North Africa, or Asia. Our data suggest ethnic background may play a role in risk for COVID-19. Migrants from some areas of the world may merit closer attention for both clinical and epidemiological reasons.