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Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 in Chungju City from 2021 July to 2021 December

Article information

J Korean Med. 2023;44(3):47-58
Publication date (electronic) : 2023 September 1
doi : https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.23030
Cheon-Hoo Jeon1orcid_icon, Jungtae Leem2,3,orcid_icon
1Division of Infectious Disease Control, Chungju Public Healthcenter
2Research Center of Traditional Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University
3Hanbang Cardio-Renal Syndrome Research Center, School of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University
Correspondence to: Jungtae Leem, Research Center of Traditional Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460, Iksan-daero, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54538, Republic of Korea, E-mail: julcho@naver.com
Received 2023 June 29; Revised 2023 July 13; Accepted 2023 August 17.

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Chungju City from July to December 2021.

Methods

The authors processed and analyzed the epidemiological analysis report written by researcher. The estimated reproduction rate was analyzed using web-based software that calculates time-varying reproduction numbers. The results were analyzed through univariate multiple regression analysis, with a maximum significance level set at 0.05.

Results

During the study period, a total of 1,188 patients were identified, with 7.9% of them progressing to a severe status. The maximum reproduction rate recorded was 3.48. Factors associated with the transition to a severe status included the presence of symptoms at the time of diagnosis, lack of vaccination, and belonging to the age group over 40.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of this study, it can be strongly supported that the measures implemented in Chungju City, such as social distancing, vaccination, and preemptive diagnostic tests, were appropriate. Furthermore, it demonstrates that Chungju City effectively managed the impact of COVID-19. Korean Medicine Doctors made significant contributions to the epidemiological investigations of COVID-19. To comprehensively manage infectious diseases, it is crucial to provide administrative and legal support and encourage active research to expand the role of Korean Medicine Doctors in this area.

Keywords: COVID-19; Epidemiology; Epidemiology investigation officer
Fig. 1

Number of COVID-19 patients and estimated reproductive number of COVID-19 in Chungju City

Numbers of COVID-19 Patients by Monthly from 2021 July to 2021 December

Demographic Characteristic of COVID-19 Patients in Chungju City from 2021 July to 2021 December

Characteristics of Patients with Disease Progression

Association between disease progression and prognostic factor of COVID-19 via Multiple Linear Regression Analysis

Proportion of Population and COVID-19 Patient

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Article information Continued

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Number of COVID-19 patients and estimated reproductive number of COVID-19 in Chungju City

Table 1

Numbers of COVID-19 Patients by Monthly from 2021 July to 2021 December

Month 2021.07 2021.08 2021.09 2021.10 2021.11 2021.12 Total
Number of Patients 95 327 117 164 104 381 1188
Number of Deaths* 0 3 2 1 0 1 8
*

Excepted 2 cases are counted at 2022 January.

Table 2

Demographic Characteristic of COVID-19 Patients in Chungju City from 2021 July to 2021 December

(N=1188)
Parameter Number Percentage (%)
Age Group (years)
 0–9 128 10.8
 10–19 171 14.4
 20–29 142 12.0
 30–39 157 13.2
 40–49 173 14.6
 50–59 156 13.1
 60–69 166 14.0
 70–79 77 6.5
 80–89 15 1.3
 90–99 3 0.2
Gender
 Male 649 54.6
 Female 539 45.4
Nationality
 Domestic 1045 88.0
 Foreign 143 12.0
Progress
 Mild 1094 92.1
 Recovery after transfer 84 7.1
 Death after transfer 10 0.8
Underlying disease
 No 886 74.6
 Yes 302 25.4
  Hypertension 165 13.9
  Diabetes 85 7.2
  Dyslipidemia 67 5.6
  Cardiovascular disease 28 2.4
Vaccination
 No 502 42.3
 Yes 686 57.7

Table 3

Characteristics of Patients with Disease Progression

Parameter Number of COVID-19 patients in Chungju (N=1188) Number of patients recovered after transfer (N=84) (%) Number of patients who died after transfer (N=10) (%)
Age Group (years)
 <30 441 8 (1.8) 0 (0.0)
 30–39 157 11 (7.0) 0 (0.0)
 40–49 173 17 (9.8) 0 (0.0)
 50–59 156 26 (16.7) 2 (1.3)
 60–69 166 10 (6.0) 4 (2.4)
 70–79 77 11 (14.3) 3 (3.9)
 80–89 15 1 (6.7) 0 (0.0)
 90–99 3 0 (0.0) 1 (33.3)
Gender
 Male 649 44 (6.8) 7 (1.1)
 Female 539 40 (7.4) 3 (0.6)
Underlying diseases
 No 886 51 (5.8) 5 (0.6)
 Yes 302 33 (10.1) 5 (1.7)
Vaccination
 No 502 55 (11.0) 5 (1.0)
 Yes 686 29 (4.2) 5 (0.7)

Table 4

Association between disease progression and prognostic factor of COVID-19 via Multiple Linear Regression Analysis

Parameters OR1 95% CI2 p-value
Gender 1.19 0.76–1.88 0.4
Nationality 1.96 0.85–5.36 0.15
Symptoms at the time of diagnosis 2.09 1.18–3.94 0.016*
Hypertension 1.39 0.74–2.55 0.3
Diabetes 1.30 0.61–2.59 0.5
Dyslipidemia 0.78 0.30–1.84 0.6
Cardiovascular disease 1.65 0.51–4.51 0.4
No Vaccination 3.45 2.04–5.88 <0.001†
Age Group (years)
 0–9 0.00 0.00–79.0 >0.9
 10–19 0.54 0.12–2.39 0.4
 (Reference: 20–29) - - -
 30–39 2.95 0.97–11.0 0.072
 40–49 3.96 1.39–14.3 0.018*
 50–59 7.54 2.75–26.7 <0.001†
 60–69 4.55 1.44–17.6 0.015*
 70< 10.4 3.22–41.2 <0.001†
1

OR: Odds Ratio;

2

CI: Confidence Interval,

*

p<0.05;

†

p<0.001

Table 5

Proportion of Population and COVID-19 Patient

Nationwide Chungju City
Proportion of population (%) Proportion of COVID-19 patient (%) Difference Proportion of population (%) Proportion of COVID-19 patient (%) Difference
Age Group (years)
 <10 7.3 8.9 1.6 6.6 10.8 4.2
 10–19 9.1 10.9 1.8 8.8 14.4 5.6
 20–29 12.9 14.8 1.9 11.3 12.0 0.7
 30–39 13.0 14.7 1.7 10.9 13.2 2.3
 40–49 15.8 14.3 −1.5 14.4 14.6 0.2
 50–59 16.7 13.3 −3.5 17.7 13.1 −4.6
 60–69 13.9 14.1 0.2 16.5 14.0 −2.5
 70–79 7.2 5.9 −1.3 8.2 6.5 −1.7
 80< 4.1 3.1 −1.0 5.8 1.5 −4.3