ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that was caused by the coronavirus family SARS-CoV-2 and which emerged in China in 2019. This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic disease mortality on the COVID-19 fatality rate. METHODS: In our study, a total of 44 countries including 37 OECD countries were evaluated. A model was created with variables including death percentages of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, chronic respiratory system diseases, diabetes and also age, gross domestic product (GDP), and the number of beds and the effect on COVID-19 fatality rate were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the model created. RESULTS: It was determined that the average age and diabetes deaths among the non-communicable disease deaths positively predicted the COVID-19 fatality rate. In the model created in the study, the effect of the number of patient beds, GDP, and deaths due to CVD, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases on the COVID-19 fatality rate was not determined. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In the study, older age and diabetes deaths positively predicted the COVID-19 fatality rate. In regions with high average age and diabetes mortality, additional policies may be required to reduce the COVID-19 fatality rate.