Underestimation of COVID-19 mortality during the pandemic. Kung, S., Doppen, M., Black, M., Braithwaite, I., Kearns, C., Weatherall, M., Beasley, R., & Kearns, N. ERJ Open Research, 7(1):00766–2020, January, 2021. Number: 1
Paper doi abstract bibtex Background There has been considerable international variation in mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences between mortality registered as due to COVID-19 and the excess all-cause mortality reported in countries worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Ecological analysis of 22 countries compared 5-year historical all-cause mortality, reported all-cause mortality and expected all-cause mortality (calculated as historical mortality plus the reported deaths attributed to COVID-19). Data available from the first week of January 2020 to that most recently available were analysed. Results Compared to the preceding 5 years, there was an excess of 716 616 deaths, of which 64.3% were attributed to COVID-19. The proportion of deaths registered as COVID-19-related/excess deaths varied markedly between countries, ranging between 30% and 197% in those countries that had an excess of deaths during the period of observation. In most countries where a definite peak in COVID-19-related deaths occurred, the increase in reported all-cause mortality preceded the increase in COVID-19 reported mortality. During the latter period of observation, a few countries reported fewer all-cause deaths than the historical figures. Conclusion The increases in all-cause mortality preceded the increase in COVID-19 mortality in most countries that had definite spikes in COVID-19 mortality. The number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 was underestimated by at least 35%. Together these findings suggest that calculation of excess all-cause mortality is a better predictor of COVID-19 mortality than the reported rates, in those countries experiencing definite increases in mortality.
@article{kung_underestimation_2021,
title = {Underestimation of {COVID}-19 mortality during the pandemic},
volume = {7},
issn = {2312-0541},
url = {http://openres.ersjournals.com/lookup/doi/10.1183/23120541.00766-2020},
doi = {10.1183/23120541.00766-2020},
abstract = {Background
There has been considerable international variation in mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences between mortality registered as due to COVID-19 and the excess all-cause mortality reported in countries worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
Ecological analysis of 22 countries compared 5-year historical all-cause mortality, reported all-cause mortality and expected all-cause mortality (calculated as historical mortality plus the reported deaths attributed to COVID-19). Data available from the first week of January 2020 to that most recently available were analysed.
Results
Compared to the preceding 5 years, there was an excess of 716 616 deaths, of which 64.3\% were attributed to COVID-19. The proportion of deaths registered as COVID-19-related/excess deaths varied markedly between countries, ranging between 30\% and 197\% in those countries that had an excess of deaths during the period of observation. In most countries where a definite peak in COVID-19-related deaths occurred, the increase in reported all-cause mortality preceded the increase in COVID-19 reported mortality. During the latter period of observation, a few countries reported fewer all-cause deaths than the historical figures.
Conclusion
The increases in all-cause mortality preceded the increase in COVID-19 mortality in most countries that had definite spikes in COVID-19 mortality. The number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 was underestimated by at least 35\%. Together these findings suggest that calculation of excess all-cause mortality is a better predictor of COVID-19 mortality than the reported rates, in those countries experiencing definite increases in mortality.},
language = {en},
number = {1},
urldate = {2021-02-18},
journal = {ERJ Open Research},
author = {Kung, Stacey and Doppen, Marjan and Black, Melissa and Braithwaite, Irene and Kearns, Ciléin and Weatherall, Mark and Beasley, Richard and Kearns, Nethmi},
month = jan,
year = {2021},
note = {Number: 1},
pages = {00766--2020},
}
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Methods Ecological analysis of 22 countries compared 5-year historical all-cause mortality, reported all-cause mortality and expected all-cause mortality (calculated as historical mortality plus the reported deaths attributed to COVID-19). Data available from the first week of January 2020 to that most recently available were analysed. Results Compared to the preceding 5 years, there was an excess of 716 616 deaths, of which 64.3% were attributed to COVID-19. The proportion of deaths registered as COVID-19-related/excess deaths varied markedly between countries, ranging between 30% and 197% in those countries that had an excess of deaths during the period of observation. In most countries where a definite peak in COVID-19-related deaths occurred, the increase in reported all-cause mortality preceded the increase in COVID-19 reported mortality. During the latter period of observation, a few countries reported fewer all-cause deaths than the historical figures. Conclusion The increases in all-cause mortality preceded the increase in COVID-19 mortality in most countries that had definite spikes in COVID-19 mortality. The number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 was underestimated by at least 35%. Together these findings suggest that calculation of excess all-cause mortality is a better predictor of COVID-19 mortality than the reported rates, in those countries experiencing definite increases in mortality.","language":"en","number":"1","urldate":"2021-02-18","journal":"ERJ Open Research","author":[{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Kung"],"firstnames":["Stacey"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Doppen"],"firstnames":["Marjan"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Black"],"firstnames":["Melissa"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Braithwaite"],"firstnames":["Irene"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Kearns"],"firstnames":["Ciléin"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Weatherall"],"firstnames":["Mark"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Beasley"],"firstnames":["Richard"],"suffixes":[]},{"propositions":[],"lastnames":["Kearns"],"firstnames":["Nethmi"],"suffixes":[]}],"month":"January","year":"2021","note":"Number: 1","pages":"00766–2020","bibtex":"@article{kung_underestimation_2021,\n\ttitle = {Underestimation of {COVID}-19 mortality during the pandemic},\n\tvolume = {7},\n\tissn = {2312-0541},\n\turl = {http://openres.ersjournals.com/lookup/doi/10.1183/23120541.00766-2020},\n\tdoi = {10.1183/23120541.00766-2020},\n\tabstract = {Background\n There has been considerable international variation in mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences between mortality registered as due to COVID-19 and the excess all-cause mortality reported in countries worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.\n \n \n Methods\n Ecological analysis of 22 countries compared 5-year historical all-cause mortality, reported all-cause mortality and expected all-cause mortality (calculated as historical mortality plus the reported deaths attributed to COVID-19). Data available from the first week of January 2020 to that most recently available were analysed.\n \n \n Results\n Compared to the preceding 5 years, there was an excess of 716 616 deaths, of which 64.3\\% were attributed to COVID-19. The proportion of deaths registered as COVID-19-related/excess deaths varied markedly between countries, ranging between 30\\% and 197\\% in those countries that had an excess of deaths during the period of observation. In most countries where a definite peak in COVID-19-related deaths occurred, the increase in reported all-cause mortality preceded the increase in COVID-19 reported mortality. During the latter period of observation, a few countries reported fewer all-cause deaths than the historical figures.\n \n \n Conclusion\n The increases in all-cause mortality preceded the increase in COVID-19 mortality in most countries that had definite spikes in COVID-19 mortality. The number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 was underestimated by at least 35\\%. Together these findings suggest that calculation of excess all-cause mortality is a better predictor of COVID-19 mortality than the reported rates, in those countries experiencing definite increases in mortality.},\n\tlanguage = {en},\n\tnumber = {1},\n\turldate = {2021-02-18},\n\tjournal = {ERJ Open Research},\n\tauthor = {Kung, Stacey and Doppen, Marjan and Black, Melissa and Braithwaite, Irene and Kearns, Ciléin and Weatherall, Mark and Beasley, Richard and Kearns, Nethmi},\n\tmonth = jan,\n\tyear = {2021},\n\tnote = {Number: 1},\n\tpages = {00766--2020},\n}\n","author_short":["Kung, S.","Doppen, M.","Black, M.","Braithwaite, I.","Kearns, C.","Weatherall, M.","Beasley, R.","Kearns, N."],"key":"kung_underestimation_2021","id":"kung_underestimation_2021","bibbaseid":"kung-doppen-black-braithwaite-kearns-weatherall-beasley-kearns-underestimationofcovid19mortalityduringthepandemic-2021","role":"author","urls":{"Paper":"http://openres.ersjournals.com/lookup/doi/10.1183/23120541.00766-2020"},"metadata":{"authorlinks":{"kearns, c":"https://bibbase.org/show?bib=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.zotero.org%2Fusers%2F6607533%2Fcollections%2FNYG2RI7X%2Fitems%3Fkey%3DhGXLq241MCQA3ow7rlTIV2gY%26format%3Dbibtex%26limit%3D100&msg=embed"}},"downloads":0},"bibtype":"article","biburl":"https://api.zotero.org/users/6607533/collections/NYG2RI7X/items?key=hSjrOPQRRHHWY81SKs6CEz45&format=bibtex&limit=100","creationDate":"2021-02-21T06:29:26.301Z","downloads":0,"keywords":[],"search_terms":["underestimation","covid","mortality","during","pandemic","kung","doppen","black","braithwaite","kearns","weatherall","beasley","kearns"],"title":"Underestimation of COVID-19 mortality during the pandemic","year":2021,"dataSources":["ydy8iPhP2TsFttgY7","KWJj8zsJW4ML2G243","6SkqXiGdfnEhkfeWg","fN3guhQKpSeXqmtzX","gYp5LQXkoiKhbuLwC","BvvFw2zRfGrfhQ6x4","ZJ4j4Apddh3MpQnDj"]}