Mortality Rates of COVID-19 Disease A Biometric Study
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 disease has been associated with disproportionate mortality amongst the world population. National and international health agencies have been monitoring the mortality of this disease day after day. So far, this has ranged from 0.9% in Russia to 18.3% in France and affected by many factors.
Aim: To estimate the case fatality rate of COVID-19 in Iraq and each Iraqi province including sex difference, and to compare the case fatality rate with the neighboring countries.
Methods: To achieve the aim of the present study, a biometric descriptive study design was adopted. Collecting the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases and deaths for 28 Months: from February 24, 2020, till August 6, 2022, and then after that the case fatality rate and recovery rate were estimated and comparing them among the eighteen Iraqi province and neighboring countries. With an extension period until13 April 2024 to recognize the temporal changes in case fatality rates. Sources of data were the Iraqi Ministry of Health and World Health Organization.
Results: The case fatality and recovery rates for Iraqi people till August 6, 2022, were 1.033 % and 98.226 %, respectively. There was a wide variation in case fatality rates among the eighteen Iraqi provinces. Highest in Sulaymaniyah (2.15 %) followed by Kirkuk (1.65 %), Thi-Qar (1.58 %), Babil (1.53 %) and Erbil (1.47 %), and lowest in Anbar (0.41%), and Wassit (0.56 %) and the capital in-between (Baghdad 0.76 %). It was also found higher proportional mortality in males than in females (54.6 % Vs. 45.4 %) which reflects the global trends. No significant temporal changes in the cumulative case fatality rate of COVID-19 in Iraq between August 6, 2022, and April 13, 2024, (1.033 %, and 1.029 % respectively) were noticed.
Conclusions: The study revealed that the mortality rate from COVID-19 in Iraq is within the average level world-wide and lower than that of the neighboring countries. With a non-significant reduction in cumulative mortality in the last two years.