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Excess mortality from COVID and non-COVID causes in minority populations

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher J. Cronin

    (Department of Economics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556)

  • William N. Evans

    (Department of Economics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556)

Abstract

The 2020 US mortality totaled 2.8 million after early March, which is 17.3% higher than age-population–weighted mortality over the same time interval in 2017 to 2019, for a total excess death count of 413,592. We use data on weekly death counts by cause, as well as life tables, to quantify excess mortality and life years lost from both COVID-19 and non–COVID-19 causes by race/ethnicity, age, and gender/sex. Excess mortality from non–COVID-19 causes is substantial and much more heavily concentrated among males and minorities, especially Black, non-Hispanic males, than COVID-19 deaths. Thirty-four percent of the excess life years lost for males is from non–COVID-19 causes. While minorities represent 36% of COVID-19 deaths, they represent 70% of non–COVID-19 related excess deaths and 58% of non–COVID-19 excess life years lost. Black, non-Hispanic males represent only 6.9% of the population, but they are responsible for 8.9% of COVID-19 deaths and 28% of 2020 excess deaths from non–COVID-19 causes. For this group, nearly half of the excess life years lost in 2020 are due to non–COVID-19 causes.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher J. Cronin & William N. Evans, 2021. "Excess mortality from COVID and non-COVID causes in minority populations," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(39), pages 2101386118-, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:118:y:2021:p:e2101386118
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Fetzer, Thiemo & Rauh, Christopher & Schreiner, Clara, 2024. "The hidden toll of the pandemic: Excess mortality in non-COVID-19 hospital patients," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    2. Amy Finkelstein & Geoffrey Kocks & Maria Polyakova & Victoria Udalova, 2022. "Heterogeneity in Damages from A Pandemic," NBER Working Papers 30658, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Qingzhao Yu & Wentao Cao & Diana Hamer & Norman Urbanek & Susanne Straif-Bourgeois & Stephania A. Cormier & Tekeda Ferguson & Jennifer Richmond-Bryant, 2023. "Associations of COVID-19 Hospitalizations, ICU Admissions, and Mortality with Black and White Race and Their Mediation by Air Pollution and Other Risk Factors in the Louisiana Industrial Corridor, Mar," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Engy Ziedan & Kosali I. Simon & Coady Wing, 2022. "Mortality Effects of Healthcare Supply Shocks: Evidence Using Linked Deaths and Electronic Health Records," NBER Working Papers 30553, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Patrícia Soares & Andreia Leite & Sara Esteves & Ana Gama & Pedro Almeida Laires & Marta Moniz & Ana Rita Pedro & Cristina Mendes Santos & Ana Rita Goes & Carla Nunes & Sónia Dias, 2021. "Factors Associated with the Patient’s Decision to Avoid Healthcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-12, December.

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