EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COVID-19 CASE DISTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO DEMOGRAPHIC AND TERRITORIAL FACTORS

Abstract

Objectives. The study assessed the distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases by sex, age, residence, and geographical region.

Methods. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using 636,939 confirmed cases recorded in 2020–2024. The planned sample (n=9,461) was calculated for 95% confidence, ±1% precision, and an anticipated proportion of 50%, and was selected randomly with proportional allocation across six strata. The interim analysis included 3,823 records processed and validated by the analysis cut-off; a standardized geographical variable was available for 831 of these records. Proportional allocation was retained, and the reported proportions are unweighted.

Results. Women represented 59.56% of analyzed cases (95% CI: 58.00–61.12%). The largest age group was 40–59 years (35.97%), followed by persons aged at least 60 years (31.42%). Urban cases represented 68.92%. In the subset used for geographical distribution, the Central region accounted for 51.99%.

Conclusions. Differences in the demographic and territorial composition of confirmed cases were observed within the analyzed subset. The findings describe case distribution, not individual infection risk, incidence, or severity. Generalization to all confirmed cases should be cautious because the analysis is interim, and geographical estimates refer only to the 831 records with complete, standardized territorial information. Population denominators are required to compare incidence or risk across demographic and territorial groups.