Income inequality and COVID-19 mortality: Age-stratified analysis of 22 OECD countries
Our study builds on a growing body of research that demonstrates an association between income inequality and COVID-19 mortality. Using Poisson multivariate regression, we age-stratify our analysis by separately examining each of four age groups over a nine-month study period in 22 OECD countries. O...
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doaj-30104d55f6094de89cad106d0a8854382021-09-19T04:58:29ZengElsevierSSM: Population Health2352-82732021-12-0116100904Income inequality and COVID-19 mortality: Age-stratified analysis of 22 OECD countriesEdgardo R. Sepulveda0Ann-Sylvia Brooker1National Institute on Ageing, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada; Corresponding author. National Institute on Ageing, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St. , Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada.Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, CanadaOur study builds on a growing body of research that demonstrates an association between income inequality and COVID-19 mortality. Using Poisson multivariate regression, we age-stratify our analysis by separately examining each of four age groups over a nine-month study period in 22 OECD countries. Our full regression model controls for national median income and relative poverty, and a set of pandemic-specific variables to capture exposure, susceptibility and treatment. We found that country-level income inequality, as measured by the disposable income Gini coefficient, is significantly and positively associated with COVID-19 mortality for all four age groups. Consistent with previous studies that analyzed all-cause mortality by age, our regression results found that the point estimate of the Gini coefficient generally declines with age. Our results suggest that inequality is possibly acting through generic and pandemic-specific processes to increase mortality via a more pronounced negative COVID-19 socio-economic status gradient in higher inequality countries.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827321001798COVID-19COVIDIncome inequalityPovertySocial determinants of health |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Edgardo R. Sepulveda Ann-Sylvia Brooker |
spellingShingle |
Edgardo R. Sepulveda Ann-Sylvia Brooker Income inequality and COVID-19 mortality: Age-stratified analysis of 22 OECD countries SSM: Population Health COVID-19 COVID Income inequality Poverty Social determinants of health |
author_facet |
Edgardo R. Sepulveda Ann-Sylvia Brooker |
author_sort |
Edgardo R. Sepulveda |
title |
Income inequality and COVID-19 mortality: Age-stratified analysis of 22 OECD countries |
title_short |
Income inequality and COVID-19 mortality: Age-stratified analysis of 22 OECD countries |
title_full |
Income inequality and COVID-19 mortality: Age-stratified analysis of 22 OECD countries |
title_fullStr |
Income inequality and COVID-19 mortality: Age-stratified analysis of 22 OECD countries |
title_full_unstemmed |
Income inequality and COVID-19 mortality: Age-stratified analysis of 22 OECD countries |
title_sort |
income inequality and covid-19 mortality: age-stratified analysis of 22 oecd countries |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
SSM: Population Health |
issn |
2352-8273 |
publishDate |
2021-12-01 |
description |
Our study builds on a growing body of research that demonstrates an association between income inequality and COVID-19 mortality. Using Poisson multivariate regression, we age-stratify our analysis by separately examining each of four age groups over a nine-month study period in 22 OECD countries. Our full regression model controls for national median income and relative poverty, and a set of pandemic-specific variables to capture exposure, susceptibility and treatment. We found that country-level income inequality, as measured by the disposable income Gini coefficient, is significantly and positively associated with COVID-19 mortality for all four age groups. Consistent with previous studies that analyzed all-cause mortality by age, our regression results found that the point estimate of the Gini coefficient generally declines with age. Our results suggest that inequality is possibly acting through generic and pandemic-specific processes to increase mortality via a more pronounced negative COVID-19 socio-economic status gradient in higher inequality countries. |
topic |
COVID-19 COVID Income inequality Poverty Social determinants of health |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827321001798 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT edgardorsepulveda incomeinequalityandcovid19mortalityagestratifiedanalysisof22oecdcountries AT annsylviabrooker incomeinequalityandcovid19mortalityagestratifiedanalysisof22oecdcountries |
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