According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, just published by a group of experts under the direction of Eve Wool and Christopher Murray of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation of the University of Washington in Seattle (USA), in the period between 1990 and In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed the trend in global mortality and life expectancy. The study, published in the journal The Lancet, highlights the significant increase in mortality linked to COVID-19, which has altered the ranking of the main causes of death globally, positioning itself as the second most frequent cause of death in 2021 with 94, 0 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
Despite an overall trend of increasing life expectancy between 1990 and 2019, there was a net decline of 1.6 years between 2019 and 2021, primarily due to deaths attributable to COVID-19 and other health-related causes. pandemic.
Notably, the age-standardized COVID-19 death rate in 2021 was the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, with 271.0 and 195.4 deaths per 100,000, respectively. Regional variation in life expectancy was notable, with Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania experiencing the largest increase in life expectancy since 1990 and the smallest reduction due to COVID-19, at just 0. 4 years.
The study used the Cause of Death Ensemble Model (CODEm) to estimate cause-specific deaths, integrating data from 56,604 different sources, including vital records and autopsies. Despite advanced methodological approaches, the authors report limitations related to data availability and quality in some regions, which could influence the precision of mortality estimates. “The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly altered global mortality patterns” comment Wool and colleagues. “These data not only highlight the urgency of targeted health strategies to combat COVID-19 and other serious diseases, but also offer a crucial basis for improving health policies globally.”
The study highlights how, despite the progress made in various areas of global health over the years, pandemic events such as COVID-19 can quickly reverse positive trends, drastically impacting mortality and life expectancy at a global level. The work highlights the importance of effective preparedness and internationally coordinated health responses to address future public health emergencies. Finally, the evidence presented in the document supports the urgency of continued investment in research and the development of health systems that are not only capable of managing existing diseases but also of rapidly adapting to new threats.
Lancet 2024. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00367-2
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00367-2
Tags: Lancet quantifies impact pandemic global mortality life expectancy
