Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Aug 15;22(1):1549. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13698-5.
Given that COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, attempts to restrain the virus and to prevent the effects that critically ill patients with COVID-19 have on healthcare systems, has become a public health priority. This ecological study aimed to investigate the correlation between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the epidemiological indicators of COVID-19, including the cumulative incidence rate of cases, the cumulative incidence rate of death, performed COVID-19 tests per million, recovery rate, and case fatality rate.
In this ecological study, a data set was provided, which included the epidemiologic indices of COVID-19, HDI, and its components for each country. Correlation coefficients were used to determine linear correlation. Also, the scatter plots of the HDI for the studied countries based on the epidemiologic indices of COVID-19 were drawn.
This study showed that HDI and its components had positive correlation with a cumulative incidence rate of cases, the cumulative incidence rate of death, and performed COVID-19 tests (p < 0.001). HDI and two of its components, including literacy and Gross National Income (GNI) components had negative correlation with case fatality rate (CFR). Also, HDI and two of its components, including literacy and life expectancy components had negative correlation with recovery rate.
Our study showed that the HDI and its components can affect the epidemiological status of COVID-19. As HDI increased, the cumulative incidence rate of cases, cumulative incidence rate of death, and COVID-19 tests increased as well. As HDI increased, CFR and recovery rate decreased as well. Although the HDI is higher in high-income countries, these countries may have also better reporting and surveillance systems.
鉴于 COVID-19 继续在全球范围内传播，试图控制病毒并防止 COVID-19 重症患者对医疗系统造成的影响已成为公共卫生的重点。本生态研究旨在调查人类发展指数（HDI）与 COVID-19 的流行病学指标之间的相关性，包括病例累计发病率、死亡累计发病率、每百万人进行的 COVID-19 检测、康复率和病死率。
在这项生态研究中，提供了一个数据集，其中包括每个国家的 COVID-19 流行病学指标、HDI 及其组成部分。使用相关系数来确定线性相关性。还绘制了基于 COVID-19 流行病学指标的研究国家的 HDI 散点图。
本研究表明，HDI 及其组成部分与病例累计发病率、死亡累计发病率和 COVID-19 检测呈正相关（p<0.001）。HDI 及其两个组成部分，包括识字率和国民总收入（GNI）组成部分与病死率（CFR）呈负相关。此外，HDI 及其两个组成部分，包括识字率和预期寿命组成部分与康复率呈负相关。
我们的研究表明，HDI 及其组成部分会影响 COVID-19 的流行病学状况。随着 HDI 的增加，病例累计发病率、死亡累计发病率和 COVID-19 检测也会增加。随着 HDI 的增加，病死率和康复率也会降低。尽管高收入国家的 HDI 较高，但这些国家可能也有更好的报告和监测系统。
