The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global life expectancy has been significant, with a recent study revealing alarming trends in mortality rates. Researchers analyzed cause-of-death data for 24 countries and found that in 2020, life expectancy declined in all but four of the included countries. The United States saw the largest decline of 2.1 years for males.
Further declines in life expectancy were observed in 2021, with females in Bulgaria and males in Latvia experiencing the largest losses of over two years. Lead author Antonino Polizzi of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science highlighted the ongoing effects of the pandemic on mortality rates, noting that life expectancy losses had not returned to pre-pandemic levels in several countries by 2022.
The study identified cardiovascular disease as a major contributor to life expectancy losses during the pandemic, particularly in Russia and Eastern Europe. In 2020, Russia experienced a 5.3-month decline in cardiovascular-related mortality, while Bulgaria saw a 5.5-month decline in 2021. The authors suggested that lapses in prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disease, as well as undercounted COVID-19 deaths, could have played a role in these losses.
Professor Jennifer Dowd emphasized the reversal of progress in reducing cardiovascular deaths during the pandemic, which had been a significant source of gains in life expectancy from 2015 to 2019. The study also noted increased mortality from substance abuse and mental health-related causes in some countries, with the US and Canada experiencing continued increases in drug-related deaths.
On a positive note, cancer mortality generally continued to decline in most countries, suggesting that cancer care was less disrupted than expected during the pandemic. However, the study underscored the importance of robust health care systems that can handle crises without compromising care for other conditions. Targeted public health interventions were also highlighted as essential to address the varied impacts of the pandemic across different countries and age groups.
In conclusion, the study called for a post-pandemic analysis of different diseases and causes of death to identify factors that can improve global health care systems. Dr. José Manuel Aburto emphasized the need for continued research to understand the full extent of the pandemic’s impact on mortality rates and to inform future public health strategies.
For more information, the study titled “Indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cause-of-death analysis of life expectancy changes in 24 countries, 2015 to 2022” can be accessed in PNAS Nexus. This research sheds light on the complex interplay between the pandemic and other causes of death, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and intervention to protect global health.
