Global, regional, and national incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in 237 countries and territories, January 2022: a systematic analysis for World Health Organization COVID-19 Dashboard

Abstract

Objective: To estimate global, regional, and national incidences and mortality of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 237 countries and territories since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to 31 January, 2022. Methods: Comprehensive estimates were produced through global, regional, and national studies of cumulative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence and mortality rate of COVID-19 was analyzed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Dashboard data since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to 31 January, 2022. The number of cumulative total confirmed cases, the number of cumulative total confirmed cases (cumulative incidence) per 100,000, the number of cumulative total death cases, and the number of cumulative total death cases (cumulative death rate) per 100,000 population were calculated according to the WHO regions, World Bank income groups, and each country. Results: A total of 349,641,119 of confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported globally on 31 January, 2022 (cumulative incidence of COVID-19, 4,485.72 per 100,000 population). Europe demonstrated the highest cumulative incidence of COVID-19 (14,039.95 per 100,000 population), followed by the Americas (12,512.57 per 100,000 population) showing a cumulative total death cases and cumulative death rate of COVID-19 of 5,592,266 and 71.75 per 100,000 population, respectively. The Americas presented highest cumulative death rate of COVID-19 (14,039.95 per 100,000 population), followed by Europe (12,512.57 per 100,000 population). The nation with the highest cumulative total cases of COVID-19 was the United States of America (n=69,727,991). However, the cumulative death rate of the COVID-19 was found higher in developing and underdeveloped countries. Conclusion: From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to 31 January, 2022, 349.6 million of the worldwide population suffered symptoms of SARS-COV-2 and 5.6 million lost their lives due to it. The population in Europe and other high-income groups showed high incidence rates of COVID-19 while the death rate was high in Americas and other upper middle-income nations. According to figures of nationalities, the countries with compromised economic status presented a higher death rate despite relatively lower incidence of COVID-19 than the developed countries. The results of this study may provide crucially important for COVID-19 research and proper public health policies and strategies.