Does mask usage correlate with excess mortality? Findings from 24 European countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as masking, were mandated or recommended during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study's primary objective is to investigate the relationship between population-level mask usage and excess mortality across Europe.

Methods

We collected data on mask usage and other relevant variables from 24 European countries during 2020-2021, a period in which mask policies varied widely across nations, providing an ideal basis for a natural experiment. To assess the association between mask usage and relevant medical and socioeconomic data at the country level, we conducted both bivariate and multivariate regression analyses. Confounding factors were accounted for in the regression models, and numerous sensitivit

SUBMITTER: Tausk DV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11900040 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature