Health inequalities are a growing concern in the UK. However, as the ethnic and racial diversity of the population is continuing to increase, ethnic health inequalities are rising rapidly. This chapter explores some of the key ethnic health inequalities in the UK. It begins by briefly outlining understandings of the relationship between race, ethnicity and health, to allow for an explicit consideration of ethnicity and race within health inequalities (Karlsen et al, 2012; Kumar and Diaz, 2019).

The chapter also briefly explores some of the current research data on the health outcomes and health-related practices of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people in the UK, to draw attention to ethnic health inequalities (Race Disparity Unit, 2019b; Millan and Smith, 2019). (As discussed in Chapter 1, the terms ‘BME’ and ‘ethnic minority groups’ used in this book refer to people of minority ethnic backgrounds and racial groups in the British context. This includes any ethnic grouping apart from majority White British.)

Central health outcomes and health-related practices are examined, including cardiovascular disease and health-related risk factors, mental health, and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). This chapter also questions why ethnic health inequalities are occurring in the UK, by considering what factors influence health outcomes.

What is the relationship between race, ethnicity and health?

There is a plethora of evidence highlighting that people from BME groups experience poorer health than other groups in the UK (Race Disparity Unit, 2019b; Millan and Smith, 2019). These disparities are commonly understood as ethnic health inequalities in the UK, and often refer to differences in health status between different ethnic minority groups that are unfair and avoidable (Public Health England, 2020).

In recent years, public health and health research have witnessed a growing interest in ethnic health inequalities (Kumar and Diaz, 2019). The recognition of these in public health has been informed by key pieces of research evidence. Notably, large-scale surveys – such as the Fourth National Survey of BME groups (Nazroo, 1997), the Health Survey for England health of ethnic minorities study in 2004 (Sproston and Mindell, 2006), and the 2011 Census (Office for National Statistics, 2011) – have indicated that BME groups as a whole are more likely to report ill health, and that ill health among BME people starts at a younger age than in the White British groups.