O efeito da testagem laboratorial nos indicadores de acompanhamento da COVID-19: uma análise dos 50 países com maior número de casos

Flávia Bulegon  Pilecco; Carolina Gomes  Coelho; Qeren Hapuk Rodrigues Ferreira  Fernandes; Ismael Henrique  Silveira; Júlia Moreira  Pescarini; Naiá  Ortelan; Ligia  Gabrielli; Estela M. L.  Aquino; Maurício Lima  Barreto

doi:10.1590/s1679-49742021000200002

##article.authors##

Flávia Bulegon Pilecco Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8316-8797
Carolina Gomes Coelho Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7294-3724
Qeren Hapuk Rodrigues Ferreira Fernandes Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3172-9684
Ismael Henrique Silveira Universidade Federal da Bahia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4793-3492
Júlia Moreira Pescarini Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8711-9589
Naiá Ortelan Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6535-748X
Ligia Gabrielli Universidade Federal da Bahia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5195-1979
Estela M. L. Aquino Universidade Federal da Bahia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8204-1249
Maurício Lima Barreto Universidade Federal da Bahia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0215-4930

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-49742021000200002

Keywords:

Coronavirus Infections, Health Status Indicators, Testing Strategies, Incidence, Mortality, SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Objective: To analyze how population testing influences the health indicators used to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic in the 50 countries with the highest number of diagnosed cases. Methods: Ecological study, with secondary data, downloaded on 8/19/2020. Accumulated incidence, mortality rate, case-fatality rate, and proportion of positive tests were calculated. The data were described and presented graphically, with the respective Spearman Correlation Coefficient. Results: The testing rate varied enormously between countries. The accumulated incidence and the proportion of positive tests were correlated with the number of tests, while the mortality rate and case-fatality rate showed a low correlation with this indicator. Conclusion: Most countries do not test enough to ensure adequate monitoring of the pandemic, reflecting on the quality of the indicators. The expansion of the number of tests is essential, but it needs to be accompanied by other measures, such as isolation of diagnosed cases and contact tracking.