The Prevalence and Severity Comparison of COVID-19 Disease in SAARC Affiliated Countries: Pattern Analysis during the First Wave in 2020 / Prevalência e gravidade da COVID-19 em países afiliados à SAARC: análise de padrões durante a primeira onda em 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 disease in SAARC affiliated countries and show the comparison by analyzing the patterns of infections, recoveries, and deaths among the countries. Methods: The data related to COVID-19 of SAARC affiliated countries were collected from Worldometer in which the dataset consists of daily confirmed, recovery, and death cases. To compare the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 among these countries, we consider three parameters such as case fatality rate (CFR), recovery-to-death ratio (RDR), and percent active case (PAC). Results: The highest daily CFR among the SAARC affiliated countries was in Bangladesh followed by Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and the Maldives according to the maximum CFR of the countries until 24 October 2020. The highest RDR among the SAARC affiliated countries was in Nepal followed by the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan until 24 October. The most prevalent country according to infection per million people by COVID-19 among the SAARC affiliated countries is the Maldives followed by India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka as of October 24. The most death prevalent country per million people is India followed by the Maldives, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and no people died in Bhutan until October 24, 2020. Conclusion: This study shows that the severity of COVID-19 is high in the Maldives in terms of infections and India in terms of deaths per million in SAARC, so India is at high risk among the countries.

Objetivos: Este estudo teve como objetivo explorar a prevalência e gravidade da doença COVID-19 em países afiliados à SAARC e mostrar a comparação por meio da análise dos padrões de infecções, recuperações e mortes entre os países. Métodos: Os dados relacionados ao COVID-19 dos países afiliados à SAARC foram coletados do worldometer no qual o conjunto de dados consiste em casos diários confirmados, de recuperação e de óbito. Para comparar a prevalência e gravidade de COVID-19 entre esses países, consideramos três parâmetros, como taxa de letalidade (CFR), razão de recuperação para óbito (RDR) e porcentagem de casos ativos (PAC). Resultados: O CFR diário mais alto entre os países afiliados da SAARC foi em Bangladesh, seguido pelo Afeganistão, Índia, Sri Lanka, Paquistão, Nepal, Maldivas, de acordo com o CFR máximo dos países até 24 de outubro de 2020. O RDR mais alto entre os países afiliados da SAARC foi no Nepal, seguido por Maldivas, Sri Lanka, Índia, Bangladesh, Paquistão, Afeganistão até 24 de outubro. O país mais prevalente, de acordo com a infecção por milhão de pessoas por COVID-19 entre os países afiliados à SAARC, é as Maldivas, seguido pela Índia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Paquistão, Afeganistão, Butão e Sri Lanka em 24 de outubro. País com maior prevalência de morte em por milhão de pessoas é a Índia, seguida por Maldivas, Afeganistão, Bangladesh, Paquistão, Nepal, Sri Lanka, e nenhuma pessoa morreu no Butão até 24 de outubro de 2020. Conclusão: Este estudo mostra que a gravidade do COVID-19 é alta nas Maldivas em termos de infecções e na Índia, em termos de mortes por milhão na SAARC. Portanto, a Índia está em alto risco entre os países.

Scientific research presentations in pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes research: status of India compared to SAARC and BRICS countries

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa(BRICS) countries’ contribution in the field of science and engineering has grown immensely over the decade. BRICScountries have accelerated their efforts in healthcare, as well in the pharmaceutical sector through increased efforts inresearch and development, acquisitions, and generic drug manufacturing. Pharmacoeconomics and health outcomesresearch field give an indication about healthcare coverage and access decisions. India being significantly majorplayer among SAARC and BRICS countries in terms of economy and policy making, the present study attemptedto analyze scientific research presentation made by India compared to SAARC and BRICS countries in the area ofpharmacoeconomics and health outcomes research at International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and OutcomesResearch Meetings. The scientific research presentation abstracts published from 2008 to 2017 were included in thestudy. Research in the area of pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes studies has increased in SAARC and BRICScountries over the last 10 years. The collaborative research with foreign/international authors is also increasing, whichis an encouraging trend in this area. The research carried out by SAARC and BRICS countries in the above-said areashould be strengthened further which may be beneficial to the society in the coming years.