scholarly journals Predictors of COVID-19 Fatality: A Worldwide Analysis of the Pandemic over Time and in Latin America

Author(s):  
Dayana Rojas ◽  
Jorge Saavedra ◽  
Mariya Petrova ◽  
Yue Pan ◽  
José Szapocznik

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 has infected over one hundred million people worldwide and has affected Latin America particularly severely in terms of both cases and deaths. This study aims to determine the association between SARS-CoV-2 testing and COVID-19 fatality rate worldwide over 8 months and to examine how this relationship differs between Latin America and all other countries. This cross-sectional study used March 2021 data from 169 countries. Multivariate regressions predicted COVID-19 fatality (outcome) from the number of SARS-CoV-2 tests (exposure), while controlling for other predictors. Results for March 2021 were compared to results from June 2020. Additionally, results for Latin America were also compared to all other countries except Latin American for March 2021. SARS-CoV-2 testing was associated with a significant decrease in COVID-19 fatality rate in both June 2020 and March 2021 (RR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.87–0.96 and RR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.74–1.00, respectively). SARS-CoV-2 testing was associated with a significant decrease in COVID-19 fatality rate in Latin American countries but not in all other countries (RR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.23–0.89 and RR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.82–1.11, respectively). However, the difference between the risk ratios for June 2020 and March 2021 and between the risk ratios for Latin America and all other countries were not statistically significant. Increased SARS-CoV-2 testing may be a significant predictor of lower COVID-19 case fatality rate, specifically in Latin American countries, due to the existence of a strong association, which may have driven the worldwide results.

Author(s):  
Gerson Ferrari ◽  
André Oliveira Werneck ◽  
Danilo Rodrigues da Silva ◽  
Irina Kovalskys ◽  
Georgina Gómez ◽  
...  

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the associations of the perceived neighborhood built environment with walking and cycling for transport in inhabitants from Latin American countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 9218 participants (15–65 years) from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health, which included a nationally representative sample of eight countries. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form for measure walking and cycling for transport and the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated. Furthermore, perceived proximity from home to public open spaces and shopping centers was assessed. Results: Perceived land use mix-access (OR: 1.32; 95%CI: 1.16,1.50) and the existence of many alternative routes in the neighbourhood (1.09 1.01,1.17) were associated with higher odds of reporting any walking for transport (≥10 min/week). Perceived slow speed of traffic (1.88 1.82,1.93) and few drivers exceeding the speed limits (1.92; 1.86,1.98) were also related to higher odds of reporting any walking for transport. The odds of reporting any cycling for transport (≥10 min/week) were higher in participants perceiving more walking/cycling facilities (1.87 1.76,1.99), and better aesthetics (1.22 1.09,1.38). Conclusions: Dissimilar perceived neighborhood built environment characteristics were associated with walking and cycling for transport among inhabitants from Latin America.


2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 977-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanchia S. Goonewardene ◽  
Khalid Baloch ◽  
Keith Porter ◽  
Ian Sargeant ◽  
Gamini Punchihewa

Road traffic collisions (RTCs) are one of the most common preventable causes of death and disability worldwide. We investigated changes in numbers of motor vehicles, case fatality rate, and crash injury rate for the most present recorded year (2002) 5 and 10 years before that in the United Kingdom (UK) and Sri Lanka (SL). We also investigated environmental and individual factors impacting patients at South Birmingham Trauma Unit, UK and Colombo General Hospital, SL. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study (both quantitative and qualitative). Over the 10-year period, numbers of motor vehicles have risen in both countries; the crash injury remained stable in both countries. Case fatality rate (far higher) in SL has decreased, as in the UK. Three hundred and twenty-five patients took part in the survey in SL, with 83 in the UK. In the categories investigated, including patient demographics, RTC environment, visual impairment, pedestrian and driver factors, the majority of results were significantly different between the two countries. Target factors such as inadequate street lighting, visual impairment, speeding, and not wearing seatbelts at time of accident were identified, and recommendations developed as a result.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (spe) ◽  
pp. 63-67
Author(s):  
Joy Harrison ◽  
Laura Simich ◽  
Carol Strike ◽  
Bruna Brands ◽  
Norman Giesbrecht ◽  
...  

This study is part of a multicentric research project involving seven universities in five Latin American countries and one Caribbean island (Jamaica). This cross-sectional study examines the profile of a sample of first and second year undergraduate students in the Medical/Health Science Department of one university in Kingston, Jamaica. The sample size was 295 students. Our results revealed that this pattern of drug use is occurring in this specific university. Alcohol was the most frequently reported substance 27.5%, followed by cannabis 6.1% and tobacco 4.7%. Report of polydrug consumption was low for all categories studied. Our findings may inform interventions at the university level.


2021 ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
Pamela Elizabeth Roque-Valarezo ◽  
María de los Ángeles Yumbo-Gúzman ◽  
Milca Orellana

Tax systems are essential for the collection of taxes, since the economic spending of the countries depends on them; Among the items we have the Income Tax (IR) and the Value Added Tax (VAT), which are the highest income obligations that Ecuador has. This article aims to analyze the repercussions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the collection systems of Ecuador compared to the countries of Latin America. For this purpose, a descriptive-documentary cross-sectional methodology was carried out in order to obtain true, reliable information from indexed databases that were verified and approved by different researchers. The results show that COVID-19 had a direct impact on the economies of Latin American countries, especially in the first half of 2020, however, the policies adopted by governments, precisely in Ecuador, helped reduce the burden of the crisis, by deferring the payment of taxes, which generated momentary relief for local companies.


F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Christian Richard Mejia-Alvarez ◽  
Jhosselyn Chacon-I ◽  
Dayanne Benites-Gamboa ◽  
Niels Pacheco-Barrios ◽  
Giancarlo F. Castillo-Tarrillo ◽  
...  

Background: Examples of addiction problems that have been reported in growing populations are those related to sexual impulses and addictions. However, such studies have not been carried out in Latin America. The aim of this study was to characterize and identify possible associations of sexual addiction in medical students in Latin America. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among the university students of a medical school in 16 cities; students of medical schools were interviewed during the first semester of 2016. To define sexual addiction, the multi-cage cad-4 test was used, categorizing individuals as possibly or not a potential problem. Additionally, associations with several social and educational variables were obtained. Results: In our study, 6% (221) of the 3691 respondents exhibited a possible problem of sexual addiction; men had 95% more problems (95% confidence interval (95%CI): 21-214, p=0.006), for each year of age it increased by 9% (95%CI: 1-18%, p=0.034 ), those who had a partner were 67%  more likely to exhibit sexual addiction (95%CI: 1.34-2.08%, p <0.001) and those who professed a religion present 44% less frequency (95%CI: 20-60%, p: 0.001). When adjusted for marital status, having children, year of studies, and the university where the respondent studied were not associated. Conclusion: Although the percentage of students who had problems with sexual addiction is minimal, screening programs should be created to find students who suffer from these problems, to avoid the possible consequences that may arise.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 205521732110615
Author(s):  
Ricardo Alonso ◽  
Aníbal Chertcoff ◽  
Felisa del V Leguizamón ◽  
Lorna Galleguillos Goiry ◽  
Maria B Eizaguirre ◽  
...  

Background To date, there are no data available on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin American patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Objective Characterize safety of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin American (LATAM) patients with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Methods A cross-sectional study between February 1, 2021, and April 30, 2021. Individuals with MS from LATAM countries were invited to participate in a self-administered web-based survey, through MS patient organizations from the region. Results 393 vaccinated pwMS from 10 different Latin American countries were included. The vaccines administered were: inactivated virus vaccines (IVV) in 38.2% of patients, adenovirus vector vaccines (AdV) in 48.8% and mRNA vaccines 13%. All patients received at least one dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines and 123 (31.3%) declared receiving a second dose. Mean (SD) age 41.5 (11.8) years, 82.4% female, MS disease duration: 8.4 (8.2) years. No serious adverse events were reported with any of the COVID-19 vaccines after either the first or second dose. A lower frequency of adverse events was found with IVV (22%) in comparison with AdV (46.4%) and mRNA (35.3%) ( p < 0.01). Five participants reported having an MS relapse after IVV first dose. Conclusion COVID-19 vaccines applied in LATAM proved safe for MS patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Honggang Ren ◽  
Xingyi Guo ◽  
Antonio Palazón-Bru ◽  
Pengcheng Yang ◽  
Nan Huo ◽  
...  

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a major threat to global health. Regional differences in epidemiological and clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of patients have not yet been investigated. This study was conducted to investigate these differences amongCOVID-19 patients in Hubei Province, China.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data on 289 COVID-19 patients from designated hospitals in three regions:Urban (Wuhan Union West Hospital), Suburban areas of Wuhan (Hannan Hospital) and Enshi city, between February 8 and 20, 2020. The final date of follow-up was December 14th, 2020. The outcomes were case fatality rate and epidemiological and clinical data.Results: Urban Wuhan experienced a significantly higher case fatality rate (21.5%) than suburban Wuhan (5.23%) and rural area of Enshi (3.51%). Urban Wuhan had a higher proportion of patients on mechanical ventilation (24.05%) than suburban Wuhan (0%) and rural Enshi (3.57%). Treatment with glucocorticoids was equivalent in urban and suburban Wuhan (46.84 and 45.75%, respectively) and higher than Enshi (25.00%). Urban Wuhan had a higher proportion of patients with abnormal tests including liver function and serum electrolytes and a higher rate of pneumonia (p &lt; 0.01 for all). Urban Wuhan also had a higher incidence of respiratory failure, heart disease, liver disease and shock, compared with the other two regions (all p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: Our findings revealed that there are regional differences in COVID-19. These findings provide novel insights into the distribution of appropriate resources for the prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 for the global community.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerson Luis de Moraes Ferrari ◽  
◽  
Irina Kovalskys ◽  
Mauro Fisberg ◽  
Georgina Gómez ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Low levels of physical activity (PA) and prolonged sitting time (ST) increase the risk of non-communicable diseases and mortality, and can be influenced by socio-demographic characteristics. The aim of this study was to use self-report data to characterise socio-demographic patterns of PA and ST in eight Latin American countries. Methods Data were obtained from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS), a household population-based, multi-national, cross-sectional survey (n = 9218, aged 15–65 years), collected from September 2014 to February 2015. Transport and leisure PA and ST were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–long version. Overall and country-specific mean and median levels of time spent in transport and leisure PA and ST were compared by sex, age, socioeconomic and education level. Results Mean levels of transport and leisure PA were 220.3 min/week (ranging from 177.6 min/week in Venezuela to 275.3 min/week in Costa Rica) and 316.4 min/week (ranging from 272.1 min/week in Peru to 401.4 min/week in Ecuador). Transport and leisure PA were higher (p < 0.005) in men than women with mean differences of 58.0 and 34.0 min/week. The mean and median for transport PA were similar across age groups (15–29 years: mean 215.5 and median 120 min/week; 30–59 years: mean 225.0 and median 120 min/week; ≥60 years: mean 212.0 and median 120 min/week). The median time spent in transport and leisure PA between three strata of socioeconomic and education levels were similar. The prevalence of not meeting PA recommendations were 69.9% (95% CI: 68.9–70.8) for transport and 72.8% (95% CI: 72.0–73.7) for leisure. Men, younger people (15–29 years), individuals with higher socioeconomic and education levels spent significantly (p < 0.001) more time sitting than women, older people (30–59 years and ≥ 60 years) and those in the middle and low socioeconomic and education groups, respectively. Conclusions Transport and leisure PA and ST range widely by country, sex, and age group in Latin America. Programs for promoting leisure and transport PA and reducing ST in Latin America should consider these differences by age and gender and between countries. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02226627. Retrospectively registered on August 27, 2014.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helga Vera von Bargen ◽  
María Espinosa Serrano ◽  
Daniel Martin Navarrete ◽  
Paz Ahumada Droguett ◽  
Carolina Méndez B. ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues wreaking worldwide havoc on health and between March and August 2020, the first outbreak of COVID-19 hit Chile. The pregnant population is especially vulnerable to infection. Studies have been published that associate socioeconomic status, overcrowding, and poverty with a higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. There are few studies about the development of this pandemic in Latin American countries so far. This study seeks to show the prevalence and sociodemographic and perinatal characteristics in pregnant women at the time of delivery, comparing both groups with positive and negative COVID-19 PCR results. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional study of pregnant women who delivered at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Santiago between April 15, 2020 and June 15, 2020. Analysis of epidemiological, sociodemographic, obstetric, perinatal and sociodemographic data of patients with positive and negative COVID-19 PCR results. Results There were 701 patients included in the study. The prevalence of those with a positive COVID-19 PCR was 9.7% and 67.7% being asymptomatic. Pre-term delivery was significantly higher in the group of positive patients (23.5%) vs. negative patients (8.7%), which was not the same rate as with cesarean sections (C-sections). A 13.2% of patients required management of the pathology in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) and there were no cases of maternal or fetal deaths. We found no significant difference between both groups when analyzing socioeconomic variables, though we noted a trend of greater overcrowding among the group of patients with infection. Conclusions The majority of pregnant patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are asymptomatic. COVID-19 increases the rate of premature births, but this rate is not same with C-sections. Sociodemographic conditions and overcrowding do not show a higher infection rate in a homogeneous population in relation to the economic, social and demographic level.


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