COVID-19 infection fatality rate: a new approach

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203943

Keywords:

COVID-19, Infection fatality rate, Health care planning

Abstract

Infection fatality rate (IFR) in COVID 19 is a useful parameter for health-care planning during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The sensitivity of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, the rate of mortality reporting (MRR) in a country and the number of RT-PCR tests done per million population are the factors that influence the true infection fatality rate. In this article we present a ready reckoner for estimating the infection fatality rate for COVID-19, for a given RT PCR test sensitivity and mortality reporting rate for use in middle and low-income countries with resource constraints. We further demonstrate the inverse relationship between infection fatality rate and the number of tests done.

Author Biography

Seshadri M. S., Department of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

Former Professor & Head

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Christian medical College & Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu

India  632004

Currently 

Medical Director , Consultant Physician & Endocrinologist,

Thirumalai Mission Hospital, Vanapadi Road,

Ranipet, Vellore,Tamil Nadu

India 632519

 

References

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Annual Report on MCCD-2018 Census. Available at: https://censusindia.gov.in/2011-Documents/mccd_Report1/MCCD_Report-2017.

Coronavirus Cases in India. Available at: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/india.

Novel Corona Virus 2019 Dataset. Available at: https://www.kaggle.com/sudalairajkumar/novel-corona-virus-2019-dataset.

Sood N, Simon P, Ebner P. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Specific Antibodies Among Adults in Los Angeles County, California, on April 10-11, 2020, Published online 18 May 2020.

Abraham P, Aggarwal N, Babu GR. Laboratory surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in India: Performance of testing and descriptive epidemiology of detected COVID-19, 22 January to 30 April 2020.

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Published

2020-08-28

How to Cite

S., S. M., & R., R. C. (2020). COVID-19 infection fatality rate: a new approach. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(9), 3679–3685. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203943

Issue

Section

Short Communication