The Effect of COVID-19 on Mortality: Underlying Causes of Excess of Deaths in Mainland Portugal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12707/RVI24.91.37486Keywords:
COVID-19, excess mortality, causes of death, PortugalAbstract
Background: The excess mortality during COVID-19 pandemic is not completely explained by the infection.
Objectives: To assess the underlying causes of the excess mortality during the pandemic in mainland Portugal (MP).
Methodology: Deaths by underlying cause and population, by gender and age (< 60, 60-69, 70-79 and > = 80), for 2015-2019 and 2020-2021 were obtained from INE. Assessment of differences between periods using the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI).
Results: The mortality due to “mental and behavioral disorders” was higher than expected in all groups, but particularly in younger (RPM = 168%; 95%CI:127-217) and older (RPM = 140%; 95%CI:137-144) women. Mortality due to “diseases of the genitourinary system” is higher than expected in older age groups, with SMR v between 110% (95%CI:105-114) and 113% (95%CI:104-122). Mortality due to “diseases of the circulatory system” is lower than expected in age groups up to 80 years old.
Conclusion: “Mental and behavioral disorders” and “diseases of the genitourinary system” appear associated with vulnerability in the context of the COVID-19.
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References
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