A competing risk survival analysis of the sociodemographic factors of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Ecuador.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Ecuador from March 1 to December 31, 2020. This retrospective longitudinal study was performed with data from publicly accessible registries of the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). Data underwent a competing risk analysis with estimates of the cumulative incidence function (CIF). The effect of covariates on CIFs was estimated using the Fine-Gray model and results were expressed as adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR). The analysis included 30,991 confirmed COVID-19 patients with a mean age of 56.57±18.53 years; 60.7% (n = 18,816) were men and 39.3% (n = 12,175) were women. Being of advanced age, especially older than or equal to 75 years (SHR = 17.97; 95%CI: 13.08-24.69), being a man (SHR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.22-1.36), living in rural areas (SHR = 1.18; 95%CI: 1.10-1.26), and receiving care in a public health center (SHR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.51-1.78) were factors that increased the incidence of death from COVID-19, while living at an elevation higher than 2,500 meters above sea level (SHR = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.66-0.73) decreased this incidence. Since the incidence of death for individuals living in rural areas and who received medical care from the public sector was higher, income and poverty are important factors in the final outcome of this disease.

Analysis of Socio-demographic, Economic and Individual Reasons for COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in Ecuador: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study.

The current outbreak of SARS-Cov-2, a virus responsible for COVID-19, has infected millions and caused a soaring death toll worldwide. Vaccination represents a powerful tool in our fight against the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Ecuador is one of the Latin American countries most impacted by COVID-19. Despite free COVID-19 vaccines, Ecuadorians still hesitate to get vaccinated. A multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyze data from the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Censuses. This study investigated socio-demographics, economic, and individual reasons associated with a person having "no intention" to receive COVID-19 vaccine across the study period of October 2021 to March 2022. The survey revealed an increase of unvaccinated people having no intention of COVID-19 vaccination from 57.4% (October-December 2021) to 72.9% (January-March 2022). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was dependent on factors like sex, age and ethnicity. Socio-economic characteristics and education level were not found to be statistically significant in lack of vaccine intention, but most vaccination hesitancy was due to distrust in the COVID-19 vaccine. People who believed that the vaccine could be unsafe because of possible side effects represented half of the surveyed participants, a proportion that barely diminished during the progress of the vaccination campaign across October-December 2021 (57.04%) and January-March 2022 (49.59%) periods. People who did not believe that the vaccine was effective enough increased from 11.47 to 18.46%. Misbeliefs about effectiveness and safety of vaccines should be considered in the implementation of public health initiatives of communication, education and intervention to improve vaccination campaigns.

Suicide rates in Ecuador: A nationwide study from 2011 until 2020.

Suicide, suicide ideations, and psychiatric disorder rates tend to increase after natural disasters such as earthquake. In 2016 Ecuador experienced a 7.8Mw earthquake and, more recently, the Covid-19 confinement. Both events may have negatively affected the mental health of the Ecuadorian population. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the suicide rates and choice of suicide method in the Ecuadorian population between January 2011 and December 2020. The dataset used is publicly available on the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Censuses. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for potential sociodemographic factors associated with each suicide method compared to other reported suicide methods. There were 10,380 registered cases of suicide in Ecuador between 2011 and 2020. Significant suicide rates per provinces were seen in Napo with 12.63 and Azuay with 12.52, followed by Bolívar with 12.30, and Orellana with 11.36 suicides/100,000 habitants. Hanging accounted for 7082 cases (68.2 %). The mestizos (82 %) were the most prevalent ethnicity of all suicide cases. School-age children with 6-12 years (OR 8.83, 95 % CI 5.34-14.59) and adolescents with 13-19 years (OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.29-1.66) were more likely to use hanging as method of suicide. In conclusion, we observed an increase of suicide rates from 8.15 per 100,000 in 2011 to 8.81 in 2020. The confinement of COVID-19 pandemic in the period evaluated did not significantly affect the suicide rates. An increased suicide rate was observed in the province hardest hit by the 2016 earthquake.

A competing risk survival analysis of the sociodemographic factors of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Ecuador / Un análisis de supervivencia de riesgos competitivos de los factores sociodemográficos de la mortalidad intrahospitalaria por COVID-19 en Ecuador / Uma análise concorrente de sobrevida de risco dos fatores sociodemográficos da mortalidade intra-hospitalar por COVID-19 no Equador

This study aimed to analyze the effect of sociodemographic characteristics on COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Ecuador from March 1 to December 31, 2020. This retrospective longitudinal study was performed with data from publicly accessible registries of the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). Data underwent a competing risk analysis with estimates of the cumulative incidence function (CIF). The effect of covariates on CIFs was estimated using the Fine-Gray model and results were expressed as adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR). The analysis included 30,991 confirmed COVID-19 patients with a mean age of 56.57±18.53 years; 60.7% (n = 18,816) were men and 39.3% (n = 12,175) were women. Being of advanced age, especially older than or equal to 75 years (SHR = 17.97; 95%CI: 13.08-24.69), being a man (SHR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.22-1.36), living in rural areas (SHR = 1.18; 95%CI: 1.10-1.26), and receiving care in a public health center (SHR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.51-1.78) were factors that increased the incidence of death from COVID-19, while living at an elevation higher than 2,500 meters above sea level (SHR = 0.69; 95%CI: 0.66-0.73) decreased this incidence. Since the incidence of death for individuals living in rural areas and who received medical care from the public sector was higher, income and poverty are important factors in the final outcome of this disease.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el efecto de las características sociodemográficas en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria de los pacientes con COVID-19 confirmado en Ecuador entre el 1 de marzo y el 31 de diciembre de 2020. Se trató de un estudio longitudinal retrospectivo realizado con datos extraídos de registros de acceso público reportados por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) de Ecuador. Los datos se analizaron empleando un enfoque de riesgo competitivo, utilizando estimaciones de la función de incidencia acumulada (FIA). El efecto de las covariables sobre las FIA se estimó mediante el modelo de Fine-Gray, y los resultados se expresaron como cocientes de riesgos de subdistribución (CRS) ajustados. El análisis incluyó 30.991 casos confirmados de COVID-19 con una edad media de 56,57±18,53 años; el 60,7% (n = 18.816) eran hombres y el 39,3% (n = 12.175) mujeres. Los factores que aumentaron la incidencia de muerte por COVID-19 fueron una edad avanzada, con mayor riesgo para los mayores o iguales a 75 años (CRS = 17,97; IC95%: 13,08-24,69); ser hombre (CRS = 1,29; IC95%: 1,22-1,36); residir en zonas rurales (CRS = 1,18; IC95%: 1,10-1,26); y recibir atención en un centro sanitario público (CRS = 1,64; IC95%: 1,51-1,78); mientras que un factor que disminuyó la incidencia de muerte fue residir en altitudes superiores a los 2.500 metros sobre el nivel del mar (CRS = 0,69; IC95%: 0,66-0,73). La mayor incidencia de muerte entre los que residían en zonas rurales y los que recibían atención médica del sector público sugiere que los ingresos y la pobreza son factores importantes en el desenlace final de esta enfermedad.

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito de características sociodemográficas sobre a mortalidade intra-hospitalar de pacientes com COVID-19 confirmada no Equador, entre 1º de março e 31 de dezembro de 2020. Este é um estudo longitudinal e retrospectivo desenvolvido com dados extraídos de registros de acesso público declarados pelo Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos do Equador (INEC). Os dados foram analisados usando uma abordagem de risco concorrente com estimativas da função de incidência cumulativa (FIC). O efeito das covariáveis sobre as FICs foi estimado pelo modelo de Fine-Gray e os resultados expressos em índices de risco de subdistribuição (IRS) ajustados. A análise incluiu 30.991 casos confirmados da COVID-19 em pacientes com idade média de 56,57±18,53 anos; sendo 60,7% (n = 18.816) do sexo masculino e 39,3% (n = 12.175) do sexo feminino. Os fatores que aumentaram a incidência de óbitos por COVID-19 foram idade avançada, com maior risco para aqueles com 75 anos ou mais (IRS = 17,97; IC95%: 13,08-24,69); ser do sexo masculino (IRS = 1,29; IC95%: 1,22-1,36); residir em áreas rurais (IRS = 1,18; IC95%: 1,10-1,26); e receber atendimento em unidade pública de saúde (IRS = 1,64; IC95%: 1,51-1,78); ao passo que um fator que diminuiu a incidência de óbitos foi residir em altitudes superiores a 2.500 metros acima do nível do mar (IRS = 0,69; IC95%: 0,66-0,73). A maior incidência de óbitos naqueles que residiam em áreas rurais e que receberam atendimento médico do setor público sugere que a renda e a pobreza são fatores importantes no desfecho dessa doença.