The role of demography in COVID-19 in India

Sir,

The article on demographic and clinical profile of patients with COVID-19 by Soni et al1 was interesting. However, the authors considered only age and gender among demographic profile. Several studies across the globe have indicated the importance of other demographic variables. For example, a study from Brazil highlighted a higher mortality rate in deprived areas2. Another study from the UK found a 2-3 times higher risk of death in the most deprived section3. A report from Columbia underscored a higher risk of dying in the indigenous people with very low socio-economic strata4. Household overcrowding or population density has also been implicated in setting up a vulnerable background for COVID-195. A study from India indicated the role of population density, the percentage of urban population and the percentage of Scheduled Caste population in determining the prevalence of COVID-19 in a district6. It also needs to be highlighted that the patients admitted to a tertiary hospital are very different from their counterparts in the community.

Demography is important, as for a poor asymptomatic patient from rural areas, this is difficult to plan a visit to the nearest diagnostic centre. Studies focusing on demography may not ignore such facts. Consideration of all demographic factors would have enriched the study and helped the policymakers to identify the most vulnerable group.