Worsening of health disparities across COVID-19 pandemic stages in Korea

Abstract

Objectives: There is a need to examineIn this late stage ofWith the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the health outcomes of the COVID-19this disease in Korea following the end of pandemic. This studymust be examined. We aimed to examineinvestigate health outcomes and disparities based onlinked to socioeconomic status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea, while identifying associated and to identify risk factors for hospitalization and mortality.Methods: This nationwide, retrospective study examined a cohortincorporated an analysis of peopleindividuals with and without COVID-19 in Korea from 1between January 1, 2020 to 31, and December 31, 2022, . The study period was divided into four4 stages. Prevalence (per 100,000),, hospitalization (per 100,000),, mortality (per 100,000),, and case -fatality (per100,000)rates were calculated. per 100,000 population. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality.Results: Throughout the study periodOverall, the incidence rate was 40,601 per 100,000 population, the mortality rate was 105 per 100,000 population, and the case -fatality rate was 259 per 100,000 cases. There wereA total of 12,577,367 (24.5%) new cases (24.5%) were recorded in stage three,3 and 8,979,635 cases (17.5%) in stage four. The medical aid4.Medical Aid recipients haddisplayed the lowest 3year3-year cumulative incidence rate (32,737 per 100,000),) but the highest hospitalization (5,663 cases per 100,000), mortality (498 per 100,000), and case -fatality (1521 per 100,000).) rates. Male sex, older age, lower economic status, living in non-metropolitan areas, aarea of residence, high Charlson comorbidity index, and individualsdisability were associated with disabilities had a higher E p u ba h e a d o f p r i n t 2 risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination reduced thewas found to reduce mortality risk of death. Conclusions:As the pandemic progressed, there was a surgesurges were observed in incidence, hospitalization, and mortality, wideningexacerbating disparities related to associated with economic status and disability. Despite these disparitiesNevertheless, Korea has maintained a low case-fatality rate across all economic groups.