ECOLOGICAL STUDY ON INFECTIONS, MORTALITY AND LETHALITY DUE TO COVID-19 IN THE WORLD: CORRELATION WITH VARIOUS ECONOMIC AND HEALTH INDICATORS

To analyze the correlation of the rates of infections, mortality and lethality of COVID-19 with different economic and health indicators at an ecological level. An ecological study was carried out with data from various sources. In total, 150 countries were included that as of July 12, 2020 had at least 500 COVID-19 infections. The variables considered as dependent were the infection, mortality and lethality rates of COVID-19, while the independent variables were: the gross domestic product (GDP), the human development index (HDI), life expectancy at birth, the average of schooling, GDP per capita in international dollars (PPP), prevalence of obesity and diabetes. Also, for Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries members, health spending per capita in international dollars and hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants. Statistical analysis was performed in Stata 14.0. The population of the 150 countries represented 94.24% of the world population. A correlation (p<0.05) was observed between the number of infections and the number of deaths with the total population. Between the number of deaths and the number of infections. Various economic indicators (HDI, GDP, average schooling, GDP per capita) and health (health expenditure per capita, obesity and diabetes) correlated positively with the rates of infections, mortality and fatality, but negatively with hospital beds. Economic and health indicators are related at an ecological level with the rates of infections, mortality and fatality in the world.