Area-level geographic and socioeconomic factors and the local incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Queensland between 2020 and 2022

Citation

Selina Ward, Angela Cadavid Restrepo, Lisa McHugh

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Volume 47, Issue 6, December 2023, 100094. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100094

Objective

Calculate the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection notifications and the influence of area-level geographic and socioeconomic factors in Queensland using real-time data from the COVID-19 Real-time Information System for Preparedness and Epidemic Response (CRISPER) project.

Design and setting

Population-level ecological study and spatial mapping of the incidence of COVID-19 infection notifications in Queensland, by postcode, 2020–2022.

Main outcome measures

Proportions and distribution of COVID-19 infection notifications by year, age-group, socioeconomic disadvantage, and geospatial mapping. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated.

Results

Between 28 January 2020 and 30 June 2022, a total of 609,569 cases of COVID-19 associated with a Queensland postcode were recorded. The highest proportion of cases occurred in 2022 (96.5%), and in the 20- to 24-year age category (IRR = 1.787). In non–Major City areas, there was also a higher incidence of COVID-19 cases in lower socioeconomic areas (IRR = 0.84) than in higher socioeconomic areas (IRR = 0.66).

Conclusions

Queensland experienced its highest proportion of COVID-19 cases once domestic and international borders opened. However, geographic and socioeconomic factors may have still contributed to a higher incidence of COVID-19 cases across some Queensland areas.

Implications for Public Health

Although Australia has moved from the emergency response phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to ensure ongoing prevention strategies target groups and areas that we have identified with the highest incidence.