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Research article
Ashraf Abugroun
Wayne State University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3824-9031
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to expand at alarming rates. We aimed to identify the effect of various health, economic and demographic indicators on the spread case fatality of COVID-19 during the initial pandemic phase.
Methods
Pearson's chi-squared (χ2) test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used compare categorical and continuous variables respectively.
Results
A total of 182 countries were included. The globally confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 21, 2020 were 266,073; with 11,183deaths. Countries with high COVID-19 case volumes had higher health expenditure, higher prevalence of smoking and alcohol use, more access to basic sanitation services and higher volume of tourists. Countries with high COVID-19 fatality had significantly lower number of nurses/midwives per 1000 people 2.6 vs 6.4, p = 0.028, higher prevalence of undernourishment 4.5 vs 2.5, p = 0.019, lower access to basic sanitation services 94.2 vs 98.7, p = 0.034 and higher mortality rates due to unsafe water, limited sanitation and lack of hygiene 0.6% vs 0.2%, p = 0.004 and higher number of total tourists’ departures 9.5 vs 5.9 million, p = 0.042.
Conclusion
Countries with primitive health structure and low income are at high risk for increased mortality. Additional measures to increase nurse staffing and address undernourishment and availability of easy access to basic sanitation services and good hygiene are crucial for pandemic control during initial phase.
Keywords
COVID 19, Pandemic, Global, Risk
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research article
Ashraf Abugroun
Wayne State University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3824-9031
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 04 May, 2020
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to expand at alarming rates. We aimed to identify the effect of various health, economic and demographic indicators on the spread case fatality of COVID-19 during the initial pandemic phase.
Methods
Pearson's chi-squared (χ2) test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used compare categorical and continuous variables respectively.
Results
A total of 182 countries were included. The globally confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 21, 2020 were 266,073; with 11,183deaths. Countries with high COVID-19 case volumes had higher health expenditure, higher prevalence of smoking and alcohol use, more access to basic sanitation services and higher volume of tourists. Countries with high COVID-19 fatality had significantly lower number of nurses/midwives per 1000 people 2.6 vs 6.4, p = 0.028, higher prevalence of undernourishment 4.5 vs 2.5, p = 0.019, lower access to basic sanitation services 94.2 vs 98.7, p = 0.034 and higher mortality rates due to unsafe water, limited sanitation and lack of hygiene 0.6% vs 0.2%, p = 0.004 and higher number of total tourists’ departures 9.5 vs 5.9 million, p = 0.042.
Conclusion
Countries with primitive health structure and low income are at high risk for increased mortality. Additional measures to increase nurse staffing and address undernourishment and availability of easy access to basic sanitation services and good hygiene are crucial for pandemic control during initial phase.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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