The biggest number of relative excess deaths occurred in young and middle aged adults amid higher than expected instances of cardiovascular, diabetes and acute respiratory diseases.
This is according to analysis from the Continuous Mortality investigation (CMI) who contributed to a to a recent commentary in the Lancet Regional Health – Europe, ‘Excess mortality in England post Covid-19 pandemic: implications for secondary prevention’.
This used excess mortality analysis from the CMI Mortality Monitor as well as related analysis by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). Comparing results from different methods aimed to give greater insight and confidence in the conclusions drawn.
The CMI’s analysis showed that the largest relative excess deaths in 2022 were for young (20-44 years) and middle-aged (45-64 years) adults.
The OHID analysis considered how excess mortality has varied by age band and cause of death. It shows that for ages 50-64 deaths between June 2022 and June 2023 were 33% higher than expected for cardiovascular diseases, 35% higher than expected for diabetes, and 43% higher than expected for acute respiratory diseases.
Stuart McDonald, deputy chairman of the CMI, said: “We continue to see persistent excess mortality, particularly for the working age population, years after the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This is an important and challenging issue for public health as well as for actuaries and others considering the financial consequences.
“The timely and granular OHID analysis is helpful in providing greater understanding of the reasons for recent excess mortality, and we look forward to working with them and the ONS in the future.”
