Health Policy Manag.  2022 Mar;32(1):45-52. 10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.1.45.

Exploration of Community Risk Factors for COVID-19 Incidence in Korea

• Sim B
• Park MB

• KMID: 2534946
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.1.45

Abstract

Background
There are regional variations in the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which means that some regions are more exposed to the risk of COVID-19 than others. Therefore, this study aims to investigate regional variations in the incidence of COVID-19 in Korea and identify risk factors associated with the incidence of COVID-19 using community-level data.
Methods
This study was conducted at the districts (si·gun ·gu) level in Korea. Data of COVID-19 incidence by districts were collected from the official website of each province. Data was also obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service and the Community Health Survey; socio-demographic factor, transmission pathway, healthcare resource, and factor in response to COVID-19. Community risk factors that drive the incidence of COVID-19 were selected using a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression.
Results
As of June 2021, the incidence of COVID-19 differed by more than 80 times between districts. Among the candidate factors, sex ratio, population aged 20–29, local financial independence, population density, diabetes prevalence, and failure to comply with the quarantine rules were significantly associated with COVID-19 incidence.
Conclusion
This study suggests setting COVID-19 quarantine policy and allocating resources, considering the community risk factors. Protecting vulnerable groups should be a high priority for these policies.

Keyword

SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Public health; Risk factors