СМЕРТНОСТЬ ОТ COVID-19 КАК ПОКАЗАТЕЛЬ РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫХ РАЗЛИЧИЙ КАЧЕСТВА ЖИЗНИ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ

Abstract

Significance. The multifaceted nature of the novel coronavirus pandemic makes it difficult to determine the factors leading to an extremely wide variation in regional COVID-19 mortality rates. The purpose of the study is: to determine whether life quality affects mortality from COVID-19. Quality of life may be one of the factors. Material and methods. The average values of mortality from COVID-19 and its growth rate from 2020 to 2021 were compared in groups of regions with the highest and lowest indicators: conditions and quality of life, financial status, population per hospital bed and per doctor, standardized mortality from homicides, suicide and self-harm, alcohol and drug-related causes. A correlation analysis was implemented. Results. In the first year of the pandemic, significant differences in average mortality from COVID-19 were detected between groups of regions that differ in mortality from causes associated with alcohol consumption, while in the second year of the pandemic significant differences were detected between groups of regions that differ in terms of conditions and quality of life, and mortality from suicide and self-harm. Differences in mortality growth rates were registered between the same groups of regions, as well as between groups by financial status of the population and population per bed ratio. For 2020, but not for 2021, there are weak, although significantly non-zero correlations between standardized COVID-19 mortality and population per hospital bed ratio (direct), population per doctor ratio (reverse), and alcohol-related mortality (reverse). Conclusion. Life quality of the population is a factor of regional differentiation of mortality from COVID-19. In the “objective” model of life quality, mortality from COVID-19 is higher in prosperous regions, while in the “subjective” model it is lower. The growth rate of mortality in the second year of the pandemic was higher in the regions with a high standard of living. The population per bed ratio had an effect on mortality from COVID-19 only in the first year of the pandemic. Scope of application. The results obtained can be used for both planning anti-epidemic measures and developing measures to equalize the living conditions in different regions.