The global case fatality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 by continents and national income: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Abou Ghayda Ramy , Lee Keum Hwa , Han Young Joo , Ryu Seohyun , Hong Sung Hwi , Yoon Sojung , Jeong Gwang Hum , Yang Jae Won , Lee Hyo Jeong , Lee Jinhee , Lee Jun Young , Effenberger Maria , Eisenhut Michael , Kronbichler Andreas , Solmi Marco , Li Han , Jacob Louis , Koyanagi Ai , Radua Joaquim , Park Myung Bae , Aghayeva Sevda , Ahmed Mohamed L. C. B. , Al Serouri Abdulwahed , Al‐Shamsi Humaid O. , Amir‐Behghadami Mehrdad , Baatarkhuu Oidov , Bashour Hyam , Bondarenko Anastasiia , Camacho‐Ortiz Adrian , Castro Franz , Cox Horace , Davtyan Hayk , Douglas Kirk , Dragioti Elena , Ebrahim Shahul , Ferioli Martina , Harapan Harapan , Mallah Saad I. , Ikram Aamer , Inoue Shigeru , Jankovic Slobodan , Jayarajah Umesh , Jesenak Milos , Kakodkar Pramath , Kebede Yohannes , Kifle Meron , Koh David , Males Visnja K. , Kotfis Katarzyna , Lakoh Sulaiman , Ling Lowell , Llibre‐Guerra Jorge , Machida Masaki , Makurumidze Richard , Mamun Mohammed A. , Masic Izet , Van Minh Hoang , Moiseev Sergey , Nadasdy Thomas , Nahshon Chen , Ñamendys‐Silva Silvio A. , Yongsi Blaise N. , Nielsen Henning B. , Nodjikouambaye Zita A. , Ohnmar Ohnmar , Oksanen Atte , Owopetu Oluwatomi , Parperis Konstantinos , Perez Gonzalo E. , Pongpirul Krit , Rademaker Marius , Rosa Sandro , Sah Ranjit , Sallam Dina , Schober Patrick , Singhal Tanu , Tafaj Silva , Torres Irene , Torres‐Roman J. Smith , Tsartsalis Dimitrios , Tsolmon Jadamba , Tuychiev Laziz , Vukcevic Batric , Wanghi Guy , Wollina Uwe , Xu Ren‐He , Yang Lin , Zaidi Zoubida , Smith Lee , Shin Jae Il 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe aim of this study is to provide a more accurate representation of COVID‐19's case fatality rate (CFR) by performing meta‐analyses by continents and income, and by comparing the result with pooled estimates. We used multiple worldwide data sources on COVID‐19 for every country reporting COVID‐19 cases. On the basis of data, we performed random and fixed meta‐analyses for CFR of COVID‐19 by continents and income according to each individual calendar date. CFR was estimated based on the different geographical regions and levels of income using three models: pooled estimates, fixed‐ and random‐model. In Asia, all three types of CFR initially remained approximately between 2.0% and 3.0%. In the case of pooled estimates and the fixed model results, CFR increased to 4.0%, by then gradually decreasing, while in the case of random‐model, CFR remained under 2.0%. Similarly, in Europe, initially, the two types of CFR peaked at 9.0% and 10.0%, respectively. The random‐model results showed an increase near 5.0%. In high‐income countries, pooled estimates and fixed‐model showed gradually increasing trends with a final pooled estimates and random‐model reached about 8.0% and 4.0%, respectively. In middle‐income, the pooled estimates and fixed‐model have gradually increased reaching up to 4.5%. in low‐income countries, CFRs remained similar between 1.5% and 3.0%. Our study emphasizes that COVID‐19 CFR is not a fixed or static value. Rather, it is a dynamic estimate that changes with time, population, socioeconomic factors, and the mitigatory efforts of individual countries.