Excess mortality due to Covid-19 could last a long time, according to report
Published: Monday, Sep 16th 2024, 11:20
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The after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic are not yet over. According to a report by reinsurer Swiss Re, many countries are still experiencing increased excess mortality four years after the peak of the pandemic.
The reinsurer expects excess mortality to continue until 2033, as Swiss Re announced on Monday. In ten years' time, the mortality rate in the USA could still be three percent above the pre-pandemic level and 2.5 percent in the UK.
The main reason for this excess mortality is respiratory diseases. However, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and metabolic diseases also play a role. According to Swiss Re, there is a close correlation between Covid-19 and mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases.
Indirect effects
On the one hand, the virus itself contributes to causes of death such as heart failure, but on the other hand, corona also has an indirect effect by overloading the healthcare system. This overload has led to a backlog of important examinations and operations, meaning that illnesses such as high blood pressure are often not diagnosed and therefore not treated.
To reduce excess mortality to zero, the impact of Covid-19 on older and vulnerable population groups must be reduced, Swiss Re wrote. This could be achieved through vaccinations, for example. In addition, a normalization of healthcare operations, medical advances and healthier lifestyles are also needed in the long term.
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