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Twice Unlucky: From Early-Life Cholera Exposure to Adult COVID-19 Mortality

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia I. Ritter

    (University of Connecticut)

  • Ricardo Sanchez

    (Barcelona School of Economics)

Abstract

Many individuals in developing countries experience multiple shocks over their lifetimes, yet the interplay between these shocks is not well understood. This study estimates the impact of prenatal exposure to the cholera epidemic in Peru in the early 1990s on COVID-19 mortality several decades later. We find that a one-standard deviation increase in cholera exposure during the first trimester in utero—measured by regional infection rates—results in a 5% in-crease in COVID-19 mortality among working-age women. Significant long-term effects on cardiovascular health and economic vulnerability were iden-tified as potential mediators. Given that cholera is the second most common type of epidemic worldwide, this study suggests that policies aimed at reducing the spread of such epidemics could yield substantial long-term benefits. Addi-tionally, countries with a history of cholera may experience disproportionate benefits from COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia I. Ritter & Ricardo Sanchez, 2019. "Twice Unlucky: From Early-Life Cholera Exposure to Adult COVID-19 Mortality," Working papers 2019-16, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics, revised Aug 2023.
    • Handle: RePEc:uct:uconnp:2019-16
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; cholera; health; human capital; fetal programming;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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