Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 21, 2021

Excess Deaths Associated with Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020: Age and Sex Disaggregated Time Series Analysis in 29 High Income Countries

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  • A time series study of excess deaths in 29 high income countries (including the US) found that nearly 1 million excess deaths occurred in 2020. These excess deaths exceed officially reported deaths from COVID-19 in many countries, suggesting that analysis of excess deaths is needed to determine the full impact of the pandemic on mortality. Many countries had lower deaths than expected in children <15 years of age, while age-standardized excess death rates were higher in men than women in almost all countries. Only New Zealand had lower overall mortality than expected. 

Islam et al. (May 19, 2021). Excess Deaths Associated with Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020: Age and Sex Disaggregated Time Series Analysis in 29 High Income Countries. BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1137