Volume 28, Issue 3 (8-2025)
J Arak Uni Med Sci 2025, 28(3): 197-203 |
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Abdi Tazeh A. Evaluation of Excess Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic from 2020 to 2022 in Maragheh, Iran. J Arak Uni Med Sci 2025; 28 (3) :197-203
URL: http://jams.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-7839-en.html
URL: http://jams.arakmu.ac.ir/article-1-7839-en.html
Health Department, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran , aliabditazeh1371@mrgums.ac.ir
Abstract: (709 Views)
Introduction: The present study was conducted with the aim of analyzing excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in the population covered by Maragheh university of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study extracted the number of recorded deaths and their information, including age, sex, and date of death, by year from march 2020 to march 2021 and march 2021 to march 2022, from the cause-specific registration and classification system of mortality in Maragheh County. The number of expected deaths for 2020 and 2021 was calculated based on the number of deaths recorded from march 2018 to march 2020 in this system. Specifically, the number of deaths stratified by age, gender, and date of death from march 2018 to march 2020 was extracted, and after standardization, mortality rates were calculated. These rates were then adjusted to the population of 2020 and 2021 to estimate the expected number of deaths for these two years.
Results: from march 2020 to March 2022, 3821 deaths were recorded in the causal system. Given the expected number of 2958 deaths, 863 (29.17%) excess deaths occurred. The excess death rate among men was 24.59% and among women was 35.41%. The 60-69 year age group had the highest excess death rate. Overall, 96.06% (829 cases) of the excess deaths during these two years were attributed to COVID-19, with rates of 97.85% among men and 94.36% among women. The highest number of excess deaths occurred in the third quarter of 2020, which was 72.17% higher than the expected deaths for that period.
Conclusions: The excess death rate was higher among older age groups and in the female group. Furthermore,the occurrence of excess deaths increased during the COVID-19 infection waves. Therefore, adopting appropriate policies to prevent disease waves and implementing care and treatment strategies for older age groups will prevent many excess deaths.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study extracted the number of recorded deaths and their information, including age, sex, and date of death, by year from march 2020 to march 2021 and march 2021 to march 2022, from the cause-specific registration and classification system of mortality in Maragheh County. The number of expected deaths for 2020 and 2021 was calculated based on the number of deaths recorded from march 2018 to march 2020 in this system. Specifically, the number of deaths stratified by age, gender, and date of death from march 2018 to march 2020 was extracted, and after standardization, mortality rates were calculated. These rates were then adjusted to the population of 2020 and 2021 to estimate the expected number of deaths for these two years.
Results: from march 2020 to March 2022, 3821 deaths were recorded in the causal system. Given the expected number of 2958 deaths, 863 (29.17%) excess deaths occurred. The excess death rate among men was 24.59% and among women was 35.41%. The 60-69 year age group had the highest excess death rate. Overall, 96.06% (829 cases) of the excess deaths during these two years were attributed to COVID-19, with rates of 97.85% among men and 94.36% among women. The highest number of excess deaths occurred in the third quarter of 2020, which was 72.17% higher than the expected deaths for that period.
Conclusions: The excess death rate was higher among older age groups and in the female group. Furthermore,the occurrence of excess deaths increased during the COVID-19 infection waves. Therefore, adopting appropriate policies to prevent disease waves and implementing care and treatment strategies for older age groups will prevent many excess deaths.
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