Study examines mortality from COVID-19
Italy was the first European country to be affected by the epidemic of symptoms caused by COVID-19 infection, which is believed to have started at the end of February. This report focuses on the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, one of the first areas affected by the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2, with the aim of assessing trends in mortality from all causes and describing the characteristics of the population studied.
The study
The data used in the analysis assessed overall mortality trends from January 1 to June 30, and compared COVID-19-related deaths.
Results.
The overall mortality rate has shown an exponential increase since March 2020, with the most affected groups being "males" and "76 years and older". In contrast, the increase in mortality from all causes registered in the same month in the municipalities included in the study was 219 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Conclusion.
COVID-19 shows an increase in mortality, but it does not explain a large number of deaths.
Gallo, E., Prosepe, I., Lorenzoni, G., et al. Excess mortality from all causes is only partially explained by COVID-19 in Veneto (Italy) during the spring outbreak. BMC Public Health 21, 797 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10832-7
Summary.
This study showed the age groups and gender differences associated with COVID-19 as a cause of mortality in the area under study, but the conclusions drawn did not capture the background of the individual's medical history and treatment status, and the results were analyzed only in terms of "total mortality".
As epidemiology, these factors are not completely unrelated, as there is more than a little relationship between them, but the results of the analysis seem to be shallow.
