Human development index (HDI) is the most frequently indicator used of socioeconomic level in a nation. However, few studies have analyzed the role of HDI in the epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Costa Rica and worldwide.
A descriptive study analyzes the relationship between HDI and the incidence of CAP by county between the years 2005 to 2014 in Costa Rica.
The incidence of CAP and HDI had an inversely proportional relationship. Over this period of time, HDI increased progressively (0.729 to 0.766); this was correlated with decrease of incidence in CAP (164.9 to 138.1 per 100.000 persons) (p = 0.005). When this index exceeded 0.75, the incidence showed significant decrease from 155.0 to 127.1 cases per 100,000 persons. Prior to this change, the average annual variation rate was -1.2% and turned to -2.9% after it. Counties with very high and / or high HDI had a significantly lower incidence of CAP compared to those with a medium HDI (OR = 0.62; CI95% 0.46 - 0.83 vs OR = 0.43; CI95% 0.30 - 0.61).
HDI is a good predictor of CAP incidence in Costa Rica; the higher the HDI the lower incidence of CAP.