Influence of socioeconomic inequality on the distribution of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in Brazilian municipalities, 2020: an ecological study

• Published in: Epidemiologia e serviços de saúde 2023-01, Vol.32 (1), p.e2022303-e2022303
• Main Authors: Silva, Gabriela Drummond Marques da, Souza, Anelise Andrade de, Castro, Mônica Silva Monteiro de, Miranda, Wanessa Debôrtoli de, Jardim, Leticia Lemos, Sousa, Rômulo Paes de
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Cities; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Family Characteristics; Hospitalization; Humans; Original
• ISSN: 1679-4974; 2237-9622
• DOI: 10.1590/S2237-96222023000100021

to analyze the influence of socioeconomic inequality on COVID-19 distribution in larger Brazilian municipalities, controlling for effect of hospital infrastructure, comorbidities and other variables. this was an ecological study of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in 2020; outcome data were obtained from the Ministry of Health; incidence ratios were estimated using a generalized linear model. we identified 291,073 hospitalizations and 139,953 deaths; we found higher mortality rates in municipalities with a higher proportion of non-White people (95%CI 1.01;1.16) and with more households with more than two people per room (95%CI 1.01;1.13); presence of sewerage systems was protective for both outcomes (hospitalizations: 95%CI 0.87;0.99 - deaths: 95%CI 0.90;0.99), while a higher proportion of the population in subnormal housing clusters was a risk factor (hospitalizations: 95%CI 1.01;1.16 - deaths: 95%CI 1.09;1.21), with this variable interacting with the proportion of people receiving Emergency Aid (hospitalizations: 95%CI 0.88;1.00 - deaths: 95%CI 0.89;0.98). socioeconomic conditions affected illness and death due to COVID-19 in Brazil.