Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40302667›Full record

ArticleEpidemiology and health2025

Inequality in mortality according to regional deprivation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Min Hui Moon, Young Gyu Ko, Min Hyeok Choi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epidemiology and health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Min Hui MoonDepartment of Preventive and Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
Young Gyu KoBusan Public Health Policy Institute, Busan, Korea.
Min Hyeok ChoiDepartment of Preventive and Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesVulnerability to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is significantly greater in regions with lower socioeconomic status (SES). However, detailed analyses of regional socioeconomic disparities have rarely been conducted in Korea. This study aimed to identify and compare mortality inequalities associated with regional SES across different areas of Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

methodsUsing cause-of-death statistics from 2020 to 2022, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) for total mortality, COVID-19 mortality, and pneumonia mortality. The SES of each region was assessed using the regional deprivation index. Additionally, we calculated the rate difference, rate ratio, slope index of inequality (SII), and relative index of inequality (RII) for each socioeconomic level to examine the extent of mortality inequality and its temporal changes. These analyses were stratified by gender and urban-rural classification.

resultsThe total mortality rate, as well as COVID-19-specific and pneumonia-specific mortality rates, increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ASMR for COVID-19 was higher in rural areas (ASMR, 27.79), which have lower healthcare accessibility, compared to urban areas (ASMR, 26.63). However, mortality inequality indicators for COVID-19 were more pronounced in urban areas compared to rural areas (SII: urban, 2.72; rural, -0.05, RII: urban, 0.10; rural, 0.00). Notably, significant inequalities were observed among men residing in urban areas.

conclusionsIn disaster situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to implement strategies aimed at reducing overall mortality rates and addressing regional socioeconomic inequalities.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health Status DisparitiesMortalityAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsRepublic of KoreaRural PopulationSocial ClassSocioeconomic FactorsUrban PopulationCOVID-19Health inequalitiesMortalitySocioeconomic factors

Identifiers

PMID40302667
PMCPMC12425694

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