Population Risk Factors for COVID-19 Mortality in 93 Countries

Hashim, Muhammad; Alsuwaidi, Ahmed R.; Khan, Gulfaraz

doi:10.2991/jegh.k.200721.001

Cited by 91 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“… 9–18 Using slightly different set of predictors some studies showed an association of comorbidities more important than socioeconomic factors. 19 , 20 The question how effective particular non-pharmaceutical interventions are, is still unanswered. The ecological study including time to implementation of restriction found that this could be the most important factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic and public health characteristics explain large part of variability in COVID-19 mortality across countries

Hradský

Komárek

2021

European Journal of Public Health

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Background The numbers of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths per million people differ widely across countries. Often, the causal effects of interventions taken by authorities are unjustifiably concluded based on the comparison of pure mortalities in countries where interventions consisting different strategies have been taken. Moreover, the possible effects of other factors are only rarely considered. Methods We used data from open databases (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, World Bank Open Data, The BCG World Atlas) and publications to develop a model that could largely explain the differences in cumulative mortality between countries using non-interventional (mostly socio-demographic) factors. Results Statistically significant associations with the logarithmic COVID-19 mortality were found with the following: proportion of people aged 80 years and above, population density, proportion of urban population, gross domestic product, number of hospital beds per population, average temperature in March and incidence of tuberculosis. The final model could explain 67% of the variability. This finding could also be interpreted as follows: less than a third of the variability in logarithmic mortality differences could be modified by diverse non-pharmaceutical interventions ranging from case isolation to comprehensive measures, constituting case isolation, social distancing of the entire population and closure of schools and borders. Conclusions In particular countries, the number of people who will die from COVID-19 is largely given by factors that cannot be drastically changed as an immediate reaction to the pandemic and authorities should focus on modifiable variables, e.g. the number of hospital beds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic and public health characteristics explain large part of variability in COVID-19 mortality across countries

Hradský

Komárek

2021

European Journal of Public Health

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“…Despite the large number of studies published since the beginning of the pandemic, the knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 infection test accuracy is still evolving. As critical cases of COVID-19 were far more common in older adults and patients with comorbidities, most studies assessing the accuracy of diagnostic tests were performed in this population 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low performance of a SARS-CoV-2 point-of-care lateral flow immunoassay in symptomatic children during the pandemic

Scottá

David

Varela

et al. 2022

Jornal de Pediatria

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Objective To evaluate the accuracy of an antibody point-of-care lateral flow immunoassay (LFI - Wondfo Biotech Co., Guangzhou, China) in a pediatric population. Methods Children and adolescents (2 months to 18 years) with signs and symptoms suggestive of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection were prospectively investigated with nasopharyngeal RT-PCR and LFI at the emergency room. RT-PCR was performed at baseline, and LFI at the same time or scheduled for those with less than 7 days of the clinical picture. Overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were assessed, as well as according to the onset of symptoms (7-13 or ≥14 days) at the time of LFI test. Results In 175 children included, RT-PCR and LFI were positive in 51 (29.14%) and 36 (20.57%), respectively. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value was of 70.6% (95%CI 56.2-82.5), 96.8% (95%CI 91.9-99.1), 90.0% (95%CI 77.2-96.0), and 88.9% (95%CI 83.9-92.5), respectively. At 7-13 and ≥14 days after the onset of symptoms, sensitivity was 60.0% (95%CI 26.2-87.8) and 73.2% (95%CI 57.1-85.8) and specificity was 97.9% (95%CI 88.7-99.9) and 96.1% (95%CI 89.0-99.2), respectively. Conclusion Despite its high specificity, in the present study, the sensitivity of LFI in children was lower (around 70%) than most reports in adults. In acute care settings, although a positive result is informative, a negative LFI test cannot rule out COVID-19 in children.

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“… 21 For example, country macro-level indicators such as income and wealth distribution may modify this impact, for example, by amplifying social gradients in health and social outcomes. 22 23 Additionally, job loss and healthcare utilisation in older adults may be affected by country-level characteristics specific to COVID-19 pandemic. High number of COVID-19 deaths in the respective country may motivate older adults to limit economic activity and forgo medical appointments to protect themselves from the infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Job loss and lower healthcare utilisation due to COVID-19 among older adults across 27 European countries

Jiskrova

Bobák

Pikhart

et al. 2021

J Epidemiol Community Health

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BackgroundOlder adults are at greater risk for becoming severely ill from COVID-19; however, the impact of the pandemic on their economic activity and non-COVID-19-related healthcare utilisation is not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and predictors of COVID-19-related unemployment and healthcare utilisation in a sample of older adults across 27 European countries.MethodsWe used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe COVID-19 Survey, collected between June and August 2020. Participants (n=52 061) reported whether they lost a job, forwent medical treatment and whether their appointment was postponed due to COVID-19. Three-level models were estimated for each outcome to test the effects of individual, household and country-level characteristics.ResultsThe mean prevalence of reported job loss, and forgone and postponed medical care was 19%, 12% and 26%, respectively. Job loss was associated with female sex, lower education and household income, and older age in women. For example, the OR of job loss, comparing primary versus tertiary (college) education, was 1.89 (95% CI 1.59 to 2.26). Forgone and postponed medical care was associated with older age in men, female sex and higher education. At the country level, postponed medical care was associated with more stringent governmental anti-COVID measures.ConclusionJob loss and lower healthcare utilisation for non-COVID-19-related reasons were common among older adults and were associated with several sociodemographic characteristics. Job loss appeared to disproportionally affect already economically vulnerable individuals, raising concerns about the exacerbation of social inequalities.

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Population Risk Factors for COVID-19 Mortality in 93 Countries

Cited by 91 publications

References 24 publications

Demographic and public health characteristics explain large part of variability in COVID-19 mortality across countries

Demographic and public health characteristics explain large part of variability in COVID-19 mortality across countries

Low performance of a SARS-CoV-2 point-of-care lateral flow immunoassay in symptomatic children during the pandemic

Job loss and lower healthcare utilisation due to COVID-19 among older adults across 27 European countries

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