Thorp JA, Thorp MM, Thorp EM, Scott-Emuakpor A, Thorp K. Global COVID-19 Pandemic Outcomes: A Cross-Country Comparison Study of Policy Strategies.
Integr Med (Encinitas) 2024;
23:46-53. [PMID:
38911447 PMCID:
PMC11193410]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
This paper explores global COVID-19 treatment and containment strategies in 108 countries worldwide, specifically the correlation between COVID-19 deaths and the countries' vaccination rates. Comparison of data across states, provinces, territories, and countries relied upon a common method to evaluate data regarding the impact of COVID-19 policies in the last three years. Data from nine different databases were analyzed to determine if there were correlations between the percentage of countrywide COVID-19 deaths/population and countries' percent vaccinated. Secondary outcome measures include the effect of other variables on COVID-19 death rates per country population, including health expenditures and annual income per capita, COVID-19 tests per 1000 people, stringency index (a measure of each country's containment strategies), hydroxychloroquine/ivermectin scores (measure country use), hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and geographic locations. COVID-19 vaccination rates ranged from 0-99% in 108 countries. Bivariate analysis demonstrates the following independent variables to correlate with COVID-19 deaths/population (Spearman correlation coefficient, p value): countrywide COVID-19 vaccination rates (moderate relationship, r=0.39, P < .001); healthcare expenditures per capita per annum (US dollars) (moderate relationship, r=0.46, P < .001), net annual income per capita (moderate relationship, r=0.50, P < .001), COVID-19 tests per 1000 country population (moderate relationship, r=0.36, P < .003); stringency index per country (moderate relationship, r=0.28, P < .003); hydroxychloroquine index (negative relationship, r= 0.15, P = .125); and ivermectin index (negative relationship, r=0.23 P = .018). The authors found that the higher the percentage of a country's vaccination rate, stringent containment strategies, mass testing, etc., moderately correlated with higher COVID-19 death rates/population. Future studies are required to explore the findings of this study fully.
Collapse