Analysis of Inequalities in the Risk of COVID-19 Infection, Germany

Experience from past epidemics with viral pathogens of acute respiratory diseases and initial indications from the research literature on the current COVID-19 pandemic suggest that socioeconomically disadvantaged people may have a higher risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, this possible association between socioeconomic status and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection has so far been insufficiently explored for Germany. This paper reports the results of a first nationwide analysis of COVID-19 reporting data with an index of socioeconomic deprivation at the regional level. The results highlight the need for further monitoring of the socio-epidemiological patterns in COVID-19 and for further research into the underlying causes in order to identify temporal dynamics and trends at an early stage and to counteract a possible worsening of health inequalities.

Original title: Sozioökonomische Ungleichheit im Infektionsrisiko mit SARS-CoV-2 – Erste Ergebnisse einer Analyse der Meldedaten für Deutschland

Authors: B. Wachtler, N. Michalski,E. Nowossadeck1, M. Diercke, M. Wahrendorf, C. Santos-Hövener,T. Lampert, J. Hoebel

Find the publication here (only available in German).