Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality trends in Japan: a reversal in 2021? A descriptive analysis of national mortality data, 1995-2021.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in mortality in most countries in 2020, deviating from prior decreasing trends. In Japan, however, mortality was suggested to decrease in 2020. This study investigated long-term mortality trends and cause-specific contributions, focusing on the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Design

We analysed Japanese age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) from 1995 to 2021 using vital statistics.

Main outcome measures

The cause-specific annual ASMR changes were calculated in comparison with the previous year over the abovementioned period.

Results

There was a general downward trend in overall ASMR for both sexes until 2020 followed by a small increase in 2021. In men, the all-cause ASMR (per 100 000 persons) decr

SUBMITTER: Tanaka H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10476106 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature