Correlation Between Country-level Numbers of COVID-19 Cases and Mortalities, and Country-level Characteristics: A Global Study

Overview

Journal Scand J Public Health

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Public Health

Date 2022 Jun 3

PMID 35656592

Authors

George N Okoli

Christine J Neilson

Ahmed M Abou-Setta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Not much is known about correlations between country-level characteristics and country-level numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortalities. Using data from the World Health Organization and other international organisations, we summarised country-level COVID-19 case and mortality counts per 100,000 population, and COVID-19 case fatality rate from January 2020 to August 2021. We conducted adjusted linear regression analysis to assess relationships between these counts/rate and certain country-level characteristics. We reported adjusted regression coefficients, β and associated 95% confidence intervals. There was a positive correlation between the number of cases and country-level male/female ratio, and positive correlations between the numbers of cases and mortalities and country-level proportion of 60+-year-olds, universal health coverage index of service coverage (UHC) and tourism. Country economic status correlated negatively with the numbers of cases and mortalities. COVID-19 case fatality rate was highest in Peru, South American region (9.2%), and lowest in Singapore, Western Pacific region (0.1%). A negative correlation was observed between case fatality rate and country-level male/female ratio, population density and economic status. These observations remained mostly among mid-/low-income countries, particularly a positive correlation between the number of cases and male/female ratio and proportion of 60+-year-olds.

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