Research shows socioeconomic inequalities in severe Covid-19 outcomes in Wales

ADR Wales has released a new Data Insight highlighting significant socioeconomic disparities in severe Covid-19 outcomes across Wales. The study, part of the ADR Wales Major Societal Challenges programme, used linked data analysis to explore how factors such as underlying health conditions and demographics influenced hospitalisations, critical care admissions, and deaths during the pandemic's first two years.

Key findings reveal that individuals in Wales' most deprived areas were significantly more likely to experience severe Covid-19 outcomes, including being 1.47 times more likely to die, 1.69 times more likely to be hospitalised, and nearly twice as likely to require critical care compared to those in the least deprived areas. While adjusting for various factors reduced some differences, the socioeconomic gradient remained evident, particularly in hospital admissions. Additional risk factors included having a higher body mass index, living in an urban area, having a history of cardiovascular disease or smoking, having a clinical vulnerability, and being of a non-white ethnicity.

Read the full Data Insight and the full story on the ADR Wales website.