Unraveling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mortality trends in Belgium between 2020-2022.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Over the past four years, the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a profound impact on public health, including on mortality trends. This study investigates mortality patterns in Belgium by examining all-cause mortality, excess mortality, and cause-specific mortality.

Methods

We retrieved all-cause mortality data from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2022, stratified by age group and sex. A linear mixed model, informed by all-cause mortality from 2009 to 2019, was used to predict non-pandemic all-cause mortality rates in 2020-2022 and estimate excess mortality. Further, we also analyzed trends in cause-specific and premature mortality.

Results

Different all-cause mortality patterns could be observed between the younger (<45 years) and older age groups. The impact

SUBMITTER: Natalia YA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11495090 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature