COVID-19 among Amazonian indigenous in Peru: mortality, incidence, and clinical characteristics

BACKGROUND: Few studies have described the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 from ethnic minority groups. Our objective was to evaluate the mortality and incidence rates, clinical characteristics and factors associated with mortality in cases with COVID-19 belonging to the Amazonian indigenous ethnic group in Peru. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study including all cases from COVID-19 among Peruvian people identified as Amazonian indigenous from 07 March to 31 October 2020. We calculated the standardized mortality and incidence ratios using the indirect age-adjusted method to determine the differences between Amazonian Indigenous and the general population. In addition, we used multivariable logistic regression to determine the risk factors for death. RESULTS: A total of 19 018 laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases were analyzed. Indigenous people had 3.18 (95% CI, 3.13–3.23) times the risk of infection and 0.34 (0.31–0.37) times the mortality risk of the general Peruvian population. Males had 1.29 (1.04–1.61) times the odds of death compared with females and for each year of age, the odds of mortality increased 1.03 (1.03–1.04) times. Cases with respiratory distress had 2.47 (1.96–3.10) times more likely to die. Having an immunodeficiency was 18.7 (6.12–57.00) times more likely to die. DISCUSSION: The Amazonian indigenous population in Peru was strongly affected by COVID-19 compared with the general Peruvian population.