Trends in case-fatality rates of COVID-19 in the world, between december, 2019 and august, 2020

Introduction: CoV infections can potentially cause from a simple cold to a severe respiratory syndrome, such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). The COVID-19 created a new reality for global healthcare delivery models. Objective: To evaluate trends in case-fatality rates of COVID-19 in the world. Methods: We conducted a population-based time-series study using public and official data of cases and deaths from COVID-19 in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and Russia, between December, 2019 and August, 2020. Data were based on reports from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. COVID-19 was defined according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (U07.1). A Prais-Winsten regression model was performed and the Daily Percentage Change (DPC) determined rates as increasing, decreasing or flat.