Do the determinants of the COVID-19 mortality rate differ between European Union countries with different adult population pyramids?

Abstract

Objective: This work aims to determine whether variables such as health expenditure, the total number of physicians, available beds or restrictive public health policies are determinants of the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the European Union (EU) countries.

Study design: This is a statistical study, evaluating variables associated with COVID-19 mortality in the EU.

Methods: The association of these variables is analysed by means of multiple regression. Three groups of countries are distinguished according to the percentage of population over 65 years of age (terciles), to determine whether the variables affect the mortality rate according to the concentration of the adult population.

Results: In the first tercile, a higher number of physicians will contribute to lower mortality rates. In countries in the second tercile, the number of physicians is not relevant, but healthcare expenditure or the number of beds is. In the older age group, neither variable is significant.

Conclusions: The recruitment of more physicians may contribute to a reduction in deaths in countries with a lower proportion of adult population.

Keywords: COVID-19; Deaths; European union; Health expenditure; Number of beds; Physicians; Public policies.