Final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of Buenos Aires

Background: During the pandemic, epidemiological communications reported an estimation of excess deaths. However, the final calculation requires a detailed analysis. The study aim was to ascertain the number and distribution of COVID-19 fatalities among various socio-economic strata in a large, mode...

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Main Authors: Alejandro Macchia, Cristian Biscayart, Patricia Angeleri, Javier Mariani, Daniel Ferrante
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Public Health in Practice
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266653522400048X
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author Alejandro Macchia
Cristian Biscayart
Patricia Angeleri
Javier Mariani
Daniel Ferrante
author_facet Alejandro Macchia
Cristian Biscayart
Patricia Angeleri
Javier Mariani
Daniel Ferrante
author_sort Alejandro Macchia
collection DOAJ
description Background: During the pandemic, epidemiological communications reported an estimation of excess deaths. However, the final calculation requires a detailed analysis. The study aim was to ascertain the number and distribution of COVID-19 fatalities among various socio-economic strata in a large, moderate to low-income city. Study design: Observational time series analysis in a large city, treated as a natural experiment. Methods: Analysis of death certificates, demographic data, and health system records of positive RT-PCR COVID-19 tests from 2015 to 2021, categorizing by age, sex, and place of residence. The study measured the pandemic's impact on mortality, including COVID and non-COVID deaths, using corrected Poisson regression models for different demographics and assessing socio-economic status impact via ecological community-level analysis. Results: Compared to the pre-pandemic period (2015–2019, IRR = 1.00), the sex- and age-adjusted rate of all-cause death increased significantly during the pandemic (2020–2021) IRR = 1.109 [1.054–1.167], p < 0.0001. This was observed in both males (IRR = 1.158 [1.1–1.219], p < 0.0001) and females (IRR = 1.068 [1.016–1.124], p = 0.01). There was no observed effect of the pandemic on the historical trend in the progressive reduction of mortality in people under 35 years of age. The increase in deaths was at the expense of COVID (+11,175 deaths) and cardiovascular causes (IRR = 1.114 [1.020–1.217] p = 0.017). During the pandemic, there was a significant increase in deaths at home (IRR = 1.219 [1197–1.242], p < 0.0001), especially in people dying of cardiovascular causes (IRR = 1.391 [1.360–1.422], p < 0.0001). The increase in the adjusted mortality rate during the pandemic was socially conditioned. Conclusions: The pandemic not only led to increased COVID-19 mortality but also heightened fatalities from non-COVID causes, reflecting a potential bias in healthcare resource allocation towards SARS-CoV-2 at the expense of chronic pathologies care.
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spelling doaj-art-3564b85ec53246b88b975cdfd4faa8442025-08-20T02:50:19ZengElsevierPublic Health in Practice2666-53522024-12-01810051110.1016/j.puhip.2024.100511Final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of Buenos AiresAlejandro Macchia0Cristian Biscayart1Patricia Angeleri2Javier Mariani3Daniel Ferrante4Ministry of Public Health, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires – Argentina, Argentina; Fundación GESICA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires – Argentina, Argentina; Corresponding author. Ministry of Public Health, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires – Argentina, Argentina.Ministry of Public Health, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires – Argentina, ArgentinaMinistry of Public Health, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires – Argentina, ArgentinaFundación GESICA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires – Argentina, ArgentinaMinistry of Public Health, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires – Argentina, ArgentinaBackground: During the pandemic, epidemiological communications reported an estimation of excess deaths. However, the final calculation requires a detailed analysis. The study aim was to ascertain the number and distribution of COVID-19 fatalities among various socio-economic strata in a large, moderate to low-income city. Study design: Observational time series analysis in a large city, treated as a natural experiment. Methods: Analysis of death certificates, demographic data, and health system records of positive RT-PCR COVID-19 tests from 2015 to 2021, categorizing by age, sex, and place of residence. The study measured the pandemic's impact on mortality, including COVID and non-COVID deaths, using corrected Poisson regression models for different demographics and assessing socio-economic status impact via ecological community-level analysis. Results: Compared to the pre-pandemic period (2015–2019, IRR = 1.00), the sex- and age-adjusted rate of all-cause death increased significantly during the pandemic (2020–2021) IRR = 1.109 [1.054–1.167], p < 0.0001. This was observed in both males (IRR = 1.158 [1.1–1.219], p < 0.0001) and females (IRR = 1.068 [1.016–1.124], p = 0.01). There was no observed effect of the pandemic on the historical trend in the progressive reduction of mortality in people under 35 years of age. The increase in deaths was at the expense of COVID (+11,175 deaths) and cardiovascular causes (IRR = 1.114 [1.020–1.217] p = 0.017). During the pandemic, there was a significant increase in deaths at home (IRR = 1.219 [1197–1.242], p < 0.0001), especially in people dying of cardiovascular causes (IRR = 1.391 [1.360–1.422], p < 0.0001). The increase in the adjusted mortality rate during the pandemic was socially conditioned. Conclusions: The pandemic not only led to increased COVID-19 mortality but also heightened fatalities from non-COVID causes, reflecting a potential bias in healthcare resource allocation towards SARS-CoV-2 at the expense of chronic pathologies care.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266653522400048XCOVID-19Health services accessibilityTime series studies
spellingShingle Alejandro Macchia
Cristian Biscayart
Patricia Angeleri
Javier Mariani
Daniel Ferrante
Final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of Buenos Aires
Public Health in Practice
COVID-19
Health services accessibility
Time series studies
title Final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of Buenos Aires
title_full Final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of Buenos Aires
title_fullStr Final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of Buenos Aires
title_full_unstemmed Final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of Buenos Aires
title_short Final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of Buenos Aires
title_sort final assessment of the covid 19 pandemic impact between the different social and economic strata population of the city of buenos aires
topic COVID-19
Health services accessibility
Time series studies
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266653522400048X
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