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Geo-Temporal Distribution of 1,688 Chinese Healthcare Workers Infected with COVID-19 in Severe Conditions – A Secondary Data Analysis

12 Pages Posted: 17 Mar 2020

See all articles by Wayne Gao

Wayne Gao

Taipei Medical University - Master’s Program in Global Health and Development

Mattia Sanna

Taipei Medical University - Master’s Program in Global Health and Development

Chi-Pang Wen

National Health Research Institutes - Institute of Population Health Sciences; China Medical University; MJ Health Management Institution

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Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak is posing an unprecedented challenge to healthcare workers. This study analyzes the geo-temporal effects on disease severity for the 1,688 Chinese healthcare workers infected with COVID-19.

Method: Using the descriptive results recently reported by the Chinese CDC, we compare the percentage of infected healthcare workers in severe conditions over time and across three areas in China, and the fatality rate of infected healthcare workers with all the infected individuals in China aged 22-59 years.

Results: Among the infected Chinese healthcare workers whose symptoms onset appeared during the same ten-day period, the percentage of those in severe conditions decreased statistical significantly from 19.7% (Jan 11 – 20) to 14.4% (Jan 21 – 31) to 8.7% (Feb 1 – 11). Across the country, there was also a significant difference in the disease severity among patients symptoms onset during the same period, with Wuhan being the most severe (17%), followed by Hubei Province (10.4%), and the rest of China (7.0%). The case fatality rate for the 1,688 infected Chinese healthcare workers was significantly lower than that for the 29,798 infected patients aged 20-59 years -- 0.3% (5/1,688) vs. 0.65% (193/29,798), respectively.

Conclusion: The disease severity improved considerably over a short period of time in China. The more severe conditions in Wuhan compared to the rest of the country may be attributable to the draconian lockdown. The clinical outcomes of infected Chinese healthcare workers may represent a more accurate estimation of the severity of COVID-19 for those who have access to quality healthcare.

Funding Statement: None.

Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Case Fatality; Healthcare worker; pandemic; Wuhan, China

Suggested Citation

Gao, Wayne and Sanna, Mattia and Wen, Chi-Pang, Geo-Temporal Distribution of 1,688 Chinese Healthcare Workers Infected with COVID-19 in Severe Conditions – A Secondary Data Analysis (3/4/2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3551326 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3551326

Wayne Gao (Contact Author)

Taipei Medical University - Master’s Program in Global Health and Development ( email )

Taipei
Taiwan

Mattia Sanna

Taipei Medical University - Master’s Program in Global Health and Development

Taipei
Taiwan

Chi-Pang Wen

National Health Research Institutes - Institute of Population Health Sciences ( email )

No. 35, Keyna Road
Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 35053
Taiwan

China Medical University ( email )

No. 91 Hsueh-Shih Road
Taichung, 40402
Taiwan

MJ Health Management Institution ( email )

Taipei
Taiwan