Human Development and Mortality from COVID-19: An Ecological Study in Costa Rica

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between the Human Development Index (HDI) and its components with the mortality rate due to COVID-19 in the cantons of Costa Rica. Materials and methods: An ecological observational study was carried out. The response variable was the COVID-19 mortality rate in the cantons of Costa Rica and the explanatory variable was the cantonal HDI and its three components: material well-being, life expectancy and knowledge. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The 82 cantons of Costa Rica were evaluated, finding a COVID 19 mortality rate with an average of 140.26 deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants (95%CI: 130.91, 149.61). The cantons of San José (263.4), Goicoechea (215.5), Montes de Oro (207.5), Corredores (204.0) and Tibás (197.7) have the highest rates. When analyzing the association of the COVID 19 mortality rate between HDI and its components, significant correlations were found at 5% significance with HDI (r=0.3183, p=0.0036), material well-being index (IBM) (r=0.2868, p=0.0090), knowledge index (KI) (r=0.2301, p=0.0376). No significant correlation was found with the life expectancy index (LEI) (r=0.2064, p=0.0628). Conclusions: Among Costa Rican cantons, there is an association between HDI and COVID-19 mortality rate.