Temporal Dynamics of Socioeconomic Inequalities in COVID-19 Outcomes Over the Course of the Pandemic—A Scoping Review

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Abstract

Objectives: International evidence of socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 outcomes is extensive and growing, but less is known about the temporal dynamics of these inequalities over the course of the pandemic.

Methods: We systematically searched the Embase and Scopus databases. Additionally, several relevant journals and the reference lists of all included articles were hand-searched. This study follows the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews.

Results: Forty-six studies were included. Of all analyses, 91.4% showed stable or increasing socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 outcomes over the course of the pandemic, with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations being most affected. Furthermore, the study results showed temporal dynamics in socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19, frequently initiated through higher COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates in better-off populations and subsequent crossover dynamics to higher rates in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations (41.9% of all analyses).

Conclusion: The identified temporal dynamics of socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 outcomes have relevant public health implications. Socioeconomic inequalities should be monitored over time to enable the adaption of prevention and interventions according to the social particularities of specific pandemic phases.

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Most cited references 80

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PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation

Adrian Aldcroft, Chantelle Garritty, Simon Lewin … (2018)

Scoping reviews, a type of knowledge synthesis, follow a systematic approach to map evidence on a topic and identify main concepts, theories, sources, and knowledge gaps. Although more scoping reviews are being done, their methodological and reporting quality need improvement. This document presents the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist and explanation. The checklist was developed by a 24-member expert panel and 2 research leads following published guidance from the EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network. The final checklist contains 20 essential reporting items and 2 optional items. The authors provide a rationale and an example of good reporting for each item. The intent of the PRISMA-ScR is to help readers (including researchers, publishers, commissioners, policymakers, health care providers, guideline developers, and patients or consumers) develop a greater understanding of relevant terminology, core concepts, and key items to report for scoping reviews.

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Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework

Lisa O'Malley, Hilary Arksey (2005)

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Is Open Access

Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic

Mary L McHugh (2012)

The kappa statistic is frequently used to test interrater reliability. The importance of rater reliability lies in the fact that it represents the extent to which the data collected in the study are correct representations of the variables measured. Measurement of the extent to which data collectors (raters) assign the same score to the same variable is called interrater reliability. While there have been a variety of methods to measure interrater reliability, traditionally it was measured as percent agreement, calculated as the number of agreement scores divided by the total number of scores. In 1960, Jacob Cohen critiqued use of percent agreement due to its inability to account for chance agreement. He introduced the Cohen’s kappa, developed to account for the possibility that raters actually guess on at least some variables due to uncertainty. Like most correlation statistics, the kappa can range from −1 to +1. While the kappa is one of the most commonly used statistics to test interrater reliability, it has limitations. Judgments about what level of kappa should be acceptable for health research are questioned. Cohen’s suggested interpretation may be too lenient for health related studies because it implies that a score as low as 0.41 might be acceptable. Kappa and percent agreement are compared, and levels for both kappa and percent agreement that should be demanded in healthcare studies are suggested.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Florian Beese: URI : https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1854077/overview

Timo-Kolja Pförtner: URI : https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1062734/overview

Morten Wahrendorf: URI : https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/556292/overview

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Public Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Public Health

Journal ID (publisher-id): Int J Public Health

Title: International Journal of Public Health

Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.

ISSN (Print): 1661-8556

ISSN (Electronic): 1661-8564

Publication date (Electronic): 29 August 2022

Publication date Collection: 2022

Publication date PMC-release: 29 August 2022

Volume: 67

Electronic Location Identifier: 1605128

Affiliations

[1] ¹ Division of Social Determinants of Health , Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring , Robert Koch Institute , Berlin, Germany

[2] ² Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science , Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Human Sciences , University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany

[3] ³ Research Methods Division , Faculty of Human Sciences , University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany

[4] ⁴ Institute of Medical Sociology , Centre for Health and Society (CHS) , Medical Faculty , Heinrich-Heine University , Dusseldorf, Germany

[5] ⁵ Division of Healthcare-Associated Infections , Surveillance of Antibiotic Resistance and Consumption , Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology , Robert Koch Institute , Berlin, Germany

Author notes

Edited by: Olaf Von Dem Knesebeck, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany

Reviewed by: Daniel Ludecke, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany

Dominik Röding, Hannover Medical School, Germany

*Correspondence: Florian Beese, beesef@ 123456rki.de

Article

Publisher ID: 1605128

DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1605128

PMC ID: 9464808

PubMed ID: 36105178

SO-VID: a5f02fe3-912e-447a-b73d-e11d0537c2b9

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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Temporal Dynamics of Socioeconomic Inequalities in COVID-19 Outcomes Over the Course of the Pandemic—A Scoping Review

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Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 80

PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation

Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework

Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic

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