Risk factors and spatial distribution associated with deaths due to COVID-19: an integrative review

Abstract

Background and objectives: understanding the clinical-epidemiological and environmental factors related to deaths due to COVID-19 and their distribution in space can serve as subsidies to direct and implement more effective health actions for vulnerable populations. Thus, the objective was to synthesize the scientific evidence related to risk factors and spatial distribution of deaths due to COVID-19 in the world. Content: this is an integrative literature review, and the following guiding question emerged: what is the scientific evidence related to risk factors and spatial distribution of deaths due to COVID-19 in the world? Searches were carried out in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and the Scopus, Web of Science and National Library of Medicine (PubMed) databases in June 2021. Original studies in Portuguese, English or Spanish, without time frame, excluding studies with a specific age group or with an audience with specific comorbidity, were used. A total of 25 studies were included, with findings in different scenarios around the world. Factors such as age, sex, pre-existing diseases were associated with deaths due to COVID-19, which had a heterogeneous spatial distribution and occurred in environmental, socioeconomic and geographic conditions peculiar to these territories. Conclusion: age equal to or greater than 60 years, males, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and geographic areas with greater environmental pollution, greater population density and precarious sanitary conditions influenced the mortality of COVID-19.