Jose Luis Turabian
Background: Since the disappearance of the health alarm in many countries, cases of covid-19 are not counted. Consequently, the incidence rate of covid-19 infection in the current period of endemic is not clearly known.
Objective: Estimate the “minimum incidence rates” (when estimates do not necessarily cover the entire population) in the general practitioner care.
Methodology: Longitudinal study of covid-19 cases from October 1, 2022 to October 1, 2023 in a general medicine office in Toledo (Spain); the descriptive epidemiological analysis considered a set of selected demographics, psychosocial and clinical characteristics. Incidence rate was calculated by dividing the number of cases of covid-19 in the follow-up time. The incidence data were extrapolated to the population that depended on that clinic.
Results: 76 cases of Covid-19 were included during the study period. The crude minimum incidence rate of covid-19 infections in general medicine for the entire population served (=> 14 years) was 3.8%. It was greater in > = 65 years (6.0%), in women (4.5%) vs. men (2.9%). It was for cases of moderate-severe severity of infection 0.1%.
Conclusion: The minimum incidence rates of covid-19 infections in general medicine indicate figures to consider both with respect to the crude rate for the entire population, and with respect to cases of moderate-severe severity. The importance of data from general medicine consultations is suggested to more realistically approximate the incidence figures during the endemic phase of covid-19.