Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality in Spanish Provinces
Abstract Background Although many studies have assessed the socioeconomic inequalities caused by COVID-19 in several health outcomes, there are numerous issues that have been poorly addressed. For instance, have socioeconomic inequalities in mortality from COVID-19 increased? What impact has the pan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-023-00125-0 |
| _version_ | 1797699624270561280 |
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| author | Maria A. Barceló Marc Saez |
| author_facet | Maria A. Barceló Marc Saez |
| author_sort | Maria A. Barceló |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although many studies have assessed the socioeconomic inequalities caused by COVID-19 in several health outcomes, there are numerous issues that have been poorly addressed. For instance, have socioeconomic inequalities in mortality from COVID-19 increased? What impact has the pandemic had on inequalities in specific causes of mortality other than COVID-19? Are the inequalities in COVID-19 mortality different from other causes? In this paper we have attempted to answer these questions for the case of Spain. Methods We used a mixed longitudinal ecological design in which we observed mortality from 2005 to 2020 in the 54 provinces into which Spain is divided. We considered mortality from all causes, not excluding, and excluding mortality from COVID-19; and cause-specific mortality. We were interested in analysing the trend of the outcome variables according to inequality, controlling for both observed and unobserved confounders. Results Our main finding was that the increased risk of dying in 2020 was greater in the Spanish provinces with greater inequality. In addition, we have found that: (i) the pandemic has exacerbated socioeconomic inequalities in mortality, (ii) COVID-19 has led to gender differences in the variations in risk of dying (higher in the case of women) and (iii) only in cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer did the increased risk of dying differ between the most and least unequal provinces. The increase in the risk of dying was different by gender (greater in women) for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Conclusion Our results can be used to help health authorities know where and in which population groups future pandemics will have the greatest impact and, therefore, be able to take appropriate measures to prevent such effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:10:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-093997ff05824f88b4eb7c4435e82394 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2210-6014 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:10:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-093997ff05824f88b4eb7c4435e823942023-09-03T11:05:01ZengSpringerJournal of Epidemiology and Global Health2210-60142023-06-0113345347510.1007/s44197-023-00125-0Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality in Spanish ProvincesMaria A. Barceló0Marc Saez1Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of GironaResearch Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of GironaAbstract Background Although many studies have assessed the socioeconomic inequalities caused by COVID-19 in several health outcomes, there are numerous issues that have been poorly addressed. For instance, have socioeconomic inequalities in mortality from COVID-19 increased? What impact has the pandemic had on inequalities in specific causes of mortality other than COVID-19? Are the inequalities in COVID-19 mortality different from other causes? In this paper we have attempted to answer these questions for the case of Spain. Methods We used a mixed longitudinal ecological design in which we observed mortality from 2005 to 2020 in the 54 provinces into which Spain is divided. We considered mortality from all causes, not excluding, and excluding mortality from COVID-19; and cause-specific mortality. We were interested in analysing the trend of the outcome variables according to inequality, controlling for both observed and unobserved confounders. Results Our main finding was that the increased risk of dying in 2020 was greater in the Spanish provinces with greater inequality. In addition, we have found that: (i) the pandemic has exacerbated socioeconomic inequalities in mortality, (ii) COVID-19 has led to gender differences in the variations in risk of dying (higher in the case of women) and (iii) only in cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer did the increased risk of dying differ between the most and least unequal provinces. The increase in the risk of dying was different by gender (greater in women) for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Conclusion Our results can be used to help health authorities know where and in which population groups future pandemics will have the greatest impact and, therefore, be able to take appropriate measures to prevent such effects.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-023-00125-0COVID-19MortalitySocioeconomic inequalitiesGini index |
| spellingShingle | Maria A. Barceló Marc Saez Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality in Spanish Provinces Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health COVID-19 Mortality Socioeconomic inequalities Gini index |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality in Spanish Provinces |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality in Spanish Provinces |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality in Spanish Provinces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality in Spanish Provinces |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality in Spanish Provinces |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on the socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in spanish provinces |
| topic | COVID-19 Mortality Socioeconomic inequalities Gini index |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-023-00125-0 |
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