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Does Western or Chinese Zodiac Sign Predict COVID Infections and Death?
Amanda Frugoli1,2, Sagar Parekh2, Graal Diaz3
1Graduate Medical Education, Internal Medicine, Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, USA.
Cureus
|April 15, 2024
Summary
This study found no link between zodiac signs and COVID-19 outcomes. Age, however, remains a significant risk factor for mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Public health
- Astrology
Background:
- Human fascination with the sky spans millennia.
- Astrology, including Chinese and Western traditions, retains modern relevance, especially post-COVID-19.
- Zodiac signs are associated with personality traits, prompting investigation into their potential influence on health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if personality traits associated with Western and Chinese zodiac signs impact COVID-19 infection or mortality risk.
- To analyze the relationship between astrological designations and COVID-19 outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study of 2545 adult COVID-19 patients.
- COVID-19 infection confirmed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
- Western and Chinese Zodiac signs assigned based on birth date; analyzed for infection and mortality risk.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in mortality rates was observed across different zodiac signs.
- The mean age of deceased patients (74.5 years) was significantly higher than that of survivors (53.9 years).
- Age was a significant predictor of mortality, with a 6% increase in the odds of death for each additional year of age.
Conclusions:
- The study found no statistical correlation between Western or Chinese zodiac signs and COVID-19 infection or mortality.
- Age is confirmed as a significant risk factor for COVID-19 mortality.
- Astrology's historical influence on medicine contrasts with the lack of evidence for its impact on COVID-19 outcomes.
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