ABSTRACT
Objectives: Morbidity and mortality rates show different patterns in European countries. The aim of the study was to map geographical inequalities in mortality caused by coronavirus (Sars-COV-2) infection in Europe in 2020. Methods: In our research the ’COVID deaths by week, 2020 and 2021’ indicator from ’OECD Health Statistics’ online database was analysed. Mortality data reported for weeks were aggregated, and calculated for 1,000,000 population using the Eurostat database on the population number for 2020. European countries were classified and compared according to their geographical location: Western-European, Eastern-European, Mediterranean and Nordic countries. After a preliminary normality test (Shapiro-Wilk test) single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for comparison. Our analysis was carried out at a 95% probability level (p<0.05). SPSS 25.0 software was used for calculations. Results: In Western Europe, an overall 886, Eastern Europe 826, in Mediterranean region 1,083 and in Northern Europe 463 COVID deaths per 1,000,000 population were reported in 2020. In Europe, Belgium (1,725 deaths/1,000,000 population), Slovenia (1,379 deaths/1,000,000 population) and the United Kingdom (1,331 deaths/1,000,000 population) had the highest registered number of death cases, whereas the lowest numbers recorded were in Norway (84/1,000,000), Finland (102/1,000,000) and Estonia (189/1,000,000). Single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not show significant differences among country groups (p=0.119). Conclusions: Our study revealed that overall, the lowest death rates resulting from the coronavirus infection were reported in Northern Europe in proportion to the population. There were no significant differences between the mortality rates of the geographical areas examined.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The first patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was diagnosed on the 4th of March 2020 in Hungary. The aim of our study is to analyse the regional inequalities in the occurrence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus in Hungary. Methods: Data derived from the National Surveillance System (OSZIR) of the National Public Health Center (Nemzeti Népegészségügyi Központ) of Hungary. Patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 were confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in highly specialised laboratories designated for SARS-CoV-2 virus diagnostic. Data of laboratory confirmed cases were reported to the National Surveillance System. The period from the onset of first COVID-19 case up to 7th July 2020 was covered. Data were analysed according to 20 counties of Hungary. Results: Altogether 4,205 laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified in Hungary resulting in an incidence of 4.35 cases per 10,000 population. The number of novel coronavirus daily cases reached its peak in Hungary between 10-23 April with higher than 100 novel cases per day (0.102 new cases per 10,000 population). There was a 28.88 times higher incidence of COVID-19 in the county with the lowest (Békés 0.39) and with the highest (Budapest 11.36) occurrence. We found 4 counties with very high COVID-19 incidence (cases per 10,000 population): Budapest (11.36), Komárom-Esztergom county (10.20), Zala county (9.8) and Fejér county (9.05). The lowest frequency of COVID-19 was observed in the following counties (cases per 10,000 population): Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok (0.46), Hajdú-Bihar (0.44), Bács-Kiskun (0.42) and Békés (0.39). Conclusions: We found 28.88-fold differences in the incidence of COVID-19 cases among Hungarian counties with the lowest and highest occurrence. The highest incidence was observed in the capital city (Budapest) and in counties characterized by either nosocomial infections or cumulative cases in social institutions.