Abstract
Objective: To analyze sociodemographic factors’ influence on COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR) in Ecuador on a subnational level. Methods: Publicly available register-based observational study. A retrospective cohort of COVID-19 infections between epidemiological weeks 8–53 in the Ecuadorian public healthcare system was determined from available records. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate CFR trends according to factors such as sex, age, location, and healthcare provider. Results: Overall CFR was 9.4%; by canton, median CFR was 5.2%, with some cantons with much higher rates, like Santa Elena (39.1%). Overall CFR decreased during the period, from 16.6% (week 8) to 2.63% (week 53). Being in a rural area was an independent protective factor. Patients over 65 had a hazard ratio of 11.38 (95% CI [11.05, 11.72]). Sex, ethnicity, and treatment from public facilities were also associated with death risk. Conclusion: CFR is a proxy indicator of COVID-19 impact in Ecuador, and this location-based analysis provides new information on the disease’s specific impact subnationally. Overall COVID-19 CFR during the entire period was high, suggesting the need to improve COVID-19 care in Ecuador.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1604768 |
| Journal | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH |
| Volume | 67 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 6 Sep 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:Copyright © 2022 Flores Sacoto, Sanchez Del Hierro, Moreno-Piedrahita Hernández and Jarrin Estupiñan.
Funding
The authors thank the FSPI—Doctoral Schools Project of the French Embassy in Ecuador, funded by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| FSPI | |
| French Embassy | |
| Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires Étrangères |
Keywords
- COVID-19
- Ecuador
- SARS-CoV-2
- epidemiological model
- mortality
- socio-demographic factors
