Socio-economic inequality in global incidence and mortality rates from coronavirus disease 2019: an ecological study

Abstract

Objective Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Epidemiological and clinical features of patients with COVID-19 have been examined but Socio-economic aspects of the issue have been less studied. Thus this study aimed to identify the role of human development index (HDI) in the incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 worldwide. Methods Information of the incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 was obtained from the Worldometer and data about the HDI 2019 were obtained from the World Bank database. The correlation between incidence, mortality rates, and the HDI parameters were assessed using linear regression. We calculated concentration index (CI) to measure socioeconomic inequality in COVID-19 related mortality & incidence. Results linear regression analysis showed a direct significant correlation between the incidence and mortality rate from COVID-19 and HDI at the global level. The concentration index was positive for incidence rate (0.62) and mortality rate (0.69) of COVID-19, indicating the higher concentration of the rates among groups with high HDI. Conclusions The high incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 in countries with high and very high HDI are remarkable which should be the top priority of interventions for global health policymakers. Also, the health programs should be provided to reduce the burden of this disease in the regions with high incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19.

COVID-19: The Ivermectin African Enigma

“…A high HDI indicates longer life expectancy, better education and a higher standard of living. Our results coincide with others that show higher infections and death rates associated with high HDI 10 , 11 . This can be explained because the component “life expectancy at birth is associated with a higher percentage of population >65 years.…”

“…Un IDH alto indica una mayor esperanza de vida, una mejor educación y un mayor nivel de vida. Nuestros resultados coinciden con otros investigadores, que muestran mayores tasas de infección y de muerte asociadas a un IDH elevado 10 , 11 . Esto se puede explicar, porque el componente “la esperanza de vida al nacer se asocia a un mayor porcentaje de población >65 años.…”

“…Number and rate of confirmed detected cases, deaths, and tests due to COVID-19. countries APOC and non-APOC (update 23-[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] …”

Socioeconomic inequalities associated with mortality for COVID-19 in Colombia: a cohort nationwide study

“…► Literature shows that COVID-19 mortality exhibits socioeconomic and demographic inequities. ► Most reports on socioeconomic disparities in COVID- 19 infection and mortality belonged to the USA. ► Despite having some of the highest rates in COVID- 19 mortality, there is a scarce report of the effect of socioeconomic conditions on COVID-19 mortality in Latin American countries.…”

Socioeconomic inequalities associated with mortality for COVID-19 in Colombia: A cohort nation-wide study

“…[18] The case fatality rates across countries early in the current COVID-19 pandemic showed negative correlation with countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Human Development Index. [19,20] In the US, the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the health inequities by disproportionately affecting people from the most disadvantaged groups such as immigrants, people with disabilities and people in prisons and jails. [21] In Brazil, income and education inequalities were positively associated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates.…”