COVID-19 case-fatality rate and demographic and socioeconomic influencers: a worldwide spatial regression analysis based on country-level data

Abstract

We used the COVID-19 dataset obtained from the Our World in Data website and investigated the associations between COVID-19 CFR and nine country-level indices of 209 countries/territories using the Matern correlation regression model. Spatial dependence among the data was controlled using the latitude and longitude of the centroid of the countries/territories. Stratified analyses were conducted by economic level and COVID-19 testing policy. The average of country/territory-specific COVID-19 CFR is about 2-3% worldwide, which is higher than previously reported at 0.7-1.3%. Statistically significant associations were observed between COVID-19 CFR and population size and proportion of female smokers. The open testing policies are associated with decreased CFR. Strictness of anti-COVID-19 measures was not statistically significantly associated with CFR overall, but the higher stringency index was associated with higher CFR in higher income countries with active testing policies. The statistically significant association between population size and COVID-19 CRF suggests the healthcare strain and lower treatment efficiency in countries with large populations. The observed association between smoking in females and COVID-19 CFR might be due to that the proportion of female smokers reflected broadly income level of a country. When testing is warranted and healthcare resources are sufficient, strict quarantine and/or lockdown measures might result in excess deaths in underprivileged populations.

Pathogen threat increases electoral success for conservative parties: Results from a natural experiment with COVID-19 in France.

“…As of April 10, 2020; 1,521,252 people were diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection, and 92,798 died from the virus (WHO, 2020). With a case fatality rate estimated around 2-3% (Cao et al, 2020), COVID-19 represents a potent and salient global threat. So far, the health and economic impacts of COVID-19 have been subjected to extensive assessment (McKibbin, & Fernando, 2021).…”

Health status of COVID-19 cases at health facilities of Baghdad Alkarkh health directorate from 1st March 2020 to 31st March 2023 retrospective study

“…Both genders were 30-60 years old. Males had a greater case fatality rate (1.3% vs. 1.1%) (Yang Cao et al, 2020) [25] explain that the CFR vary between populations and over time, depending on the interplay between the causative agent of the disease, the host and the environment, as well as available treatments and quality of patient care (Yang Cao et al, 2020) [25] and added that the Distribution of COVID-19 CFR of the 209 countries/ territories included in the study The mean and median CFR worldwide are 3.31% and 2.19%, respectively with the highest rates found in Yemen (27%), West and North Europe (14%-19%), and North America (9%-12%, figure 2). Study of Yousef et al, 2022 [15] included several countries revealed that South America had the highest hospital period of stay is 21 day whereas Africa had the lowest at 9 day the >60 age group had the highest hospitalization period of 16.day while the 40 age group had the lowest hospitalization period of 10day so this duration varies depending on a number of factors, including the patient's age and the availability of resources.…”