US experienced higher COVID-19 mortality during delta and omicron waves

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By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.Nov 22 2022Reviewed by Aimee Molineux

A recent study published in JAMA provides the estimates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related mortality and excess all-cause mortality in the US and 20 peer countries during the delta and omicron waves of infection.

*Study: COVID-19 and Excess All-Cause Mortality in the US and 20 Comparison Countries, June 2021-March 2022. Image Credit: MIA Studio/Shutterstock*

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused significant damage to the global healthcare and economic sectors. The highest number of COVID-19 mortality has been observed in the USA. The country has also experienced higher excess all-cause mortality than others during the year 2020.

With the rapid deployment of effective COVID-19 vaccines, a considerable drop in new cases and mortality has been observed worldwide. However, with the emergence of novel viral variants, a gradual drop in vaccine efficacy has been noticed over time.

In the current study, scientists have compared COVID-19-related mortality and excess all-cause mortality in the US and 20 peer Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries during the delta and winter omicron waves.

Study design

The scientists collected the US COVID-19-related mortality, all-cause mortality, and vaccination data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The overall US data and the ten most- and least-vaccinated state data were considered in the analysis.

For other peer countries, they collected COVID-19 mortality data from the World Health Organization (WHO), all-cause mortality data from the OECD databases, and vaccination data from Our World in Data.

The mortality rates were estimated over two periods: the delta-dominated period (June 2021 to December 2021) and the omicron-dominated period (December 2021 to March 2022). The mortality in each period was compared with the mortality in 2015-2019 to estimate excess all-cause mortality.

Observations

The estimated COVID-19-related mortality rates in the US were 61 per 100,000 and 51 per 100,000 during the delta and omicron periods, respectively. The overall US mortality rate and the state-wise mortality rate according to the vaccination status were significantly higher than that observed in other peer countries.

A significant difference in mortality rate was observed between the states with high and low vaccine coverage. Specifically, states with high vaccine coverage (73%) had 75 deaths per 100,000 persons; in contrast, states with low vaccine coverage (52%) had 146 deaths per 100,000 persons.

The excess all-cause mortality rate in the US was estimated to be 145 per 100,000 persons, which was significantly higher than that observed in other peer countries. However, the excess all-cause mortality rate in states with high vaccine coverage was comparable to that in other peer countries during the combined delta and omicron period.

Considering each period separately, a significantly higher excess all-cause mortality was observed in these states compared to that in many peer countries during the omicron period. However, a considerably lower excess all-cause mortality than COVID-19 mortality was observed in these states during this wave.

Predicted mortality rates

According to the predictions made by matching the US COVID-19 mortality with that of the ten most-vaccinated states, the country would have prevented 122,304 deaths during the combined delta and omicron period.

Similarly, in a condition of identical excess all-cause mortality between the US and the ten most-vaccinated states, the US would have prevented 266,700 deaths during the entire period.

In a condition of identical mortality rates between the US and other peer countries, the US would have prevented 154,622 – 357,899 deaths for COVID-19 and 209,924 – 465,747 for all-cause mortality.

Study significance

The study estimates that the US experienced significantly higher COVID-19 mortality and excess all-cause mortality than other peer countries during 2021 and early 2022. However, the states with high vaccine coverage do not reflect a similar situation. This finding highlights the importance of COVID-19 vaccination in reducing the mortality rate.

Journal reference:

Bilinski A. (2022). COVID-19 and Excess All-Cause Mortality in the US and 20 Comparison Countries, June 2021-March 2022. JAMA. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2798990

Posted in: Medical Science News | Medical Research News | Disease/Infection News

Tags: Coronavirus, Coronavirus Disease COVID-19, covid-19, Efficacy, Healthcare, Mortality, Omicron, Pandemic, Respiratory, SARS, SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Syndrome, Vaccine

Comments (2)

Written by

Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta

Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta is a science communicator who believes in spreading the power of science in every corner of the world. She has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree and a Master's of Science (M.Sc.) in biology and human physiology. Following her Master's degree, Sanchari went on to study a Ph.D. in human physiology. She has authored more than 10 original research articles, all of which have been published in world renowned international journals.

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Dutta, Sanchari Sinha Dutta. (2022, December 16). US experienced higher COVID-19 mortality during delta and omicron waves. News-Medical. Retrieved on April 25, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221122/US-experienced-higher-COVID-19-mortality-during-delta-and-omicron-waves.aspx.
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Dutta, Sanchari Sinha Dutta. "US experienced higher COVID-19 mortality during delta and omicron waves". News-Medical. 25 April 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221122/US-experienced-higher-COVID-19-mortality-during-delta-and-omicron-waves.aspx>.
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Dutta, Sanchari Sinha Dutta. "US experienced higher COVID-19 mortality during delta and omicron waves". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221122/US-experienced-higher-COVID-19-mortality-during-delta-and-omicron-waves.aspx. (accessed April 25, 2024).
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Dutta, Sanchari Sinha Dutta. 2022. US experienced higher COVID-19 mortality during delta and omicron waves. News-Medical, viewed 25 April 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221122/US-experienced-higher-COVID-19-mortality-during-delta-and-omicron-waves.aspx.

Comments

How could we NOT have a higher rate? We are continually allowing an

Chuck Salerno says:

November 25, 2022 at 9:39 AM

How could we NOT have a higher rate? We are continually allowing an invasion of disease carrying illegal aliens, refugees, DACA, and dreamers... untested and disease carrying.

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Reply
- How could you be SO ignorant?
  
  Taylor H says:
  
  March 4, 2023 at 11:17 AM
  
  Literally the reason for our excess mortality rate from COVID-19 is due to 20-30% of AMERICANS never taking the pandemic serious; not wearing masks to prevent THEM from spreading it in the public to others (unless you're wearing a fitted N95, regular surgical masks work by blocking Asymptomatic and symptomatic carriers from spreading droplets out into the air and unknowingly infecting people. Surgical masks main purpose were never to protect the ones wearing them which is why that 20-30% of people who didn't can take credit for the 1 million+ deaths in America), spreading mis/disinformation, promoting therapeutics and supplements that had NO EVIDENCE of working, and not being vaccinated (even though the the vaccines significantly reduce your risk of death/serious illness, it has been known for a year and a half now that the vaccines aren't going to prevent you from getting COVID or prevent your from spreading it which is why it was strongly emphasized for those most at risk for severe outcomes to be vaccinated and to wear fitted N95 respirators, along with the general population because we have no idea what this virus will be doing to our bodies 5 or 10 years down the road after contracting COVID). You seem to be brain broken beyond repair, but lets try to enlighten a racist imbecile or at least make you feel like a piece of crap, which you should after what you said.
  
  1. The only difference between "aliens" (immigrants, you idiot) and refugees is that an immigrant chooses to leave their country, while a refugee is forced to seek asylum in another country even though they would surely rather continue their life where they consider to be home. If you decided to move from Kansas to Florida, you'd be an immigrant, yet if your house burnt down and you had nowhere to go, then you'd be considered a refugee.
  
  2. DACA refers only to those who:
  - Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012.
  - Have entered the U.S. before they turned 16 years old.
  - Have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2007 up to the present time.
  - Have been physically present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012 and at the time they applied for.
  
  3. DREAMers refer to the larger population of unauthorized migrants who arrived as MINORS to the United States, usually by no choice of their own. Imagine you found out you weren't legally brought to America when you were 1 until ICE shows up at your door to detain and deport you somewhere you don't recall ever even living. How'd you like that?
  
  It's evident that your not only an awful person, but also ne that lacks empathy or critical thinking skills. Especially since I'm sure you can't wrap your mind around America being "founded" by disease carrying immigrants in the first place AKA all of our ancestors.
  
  So if DACA applicants and DREAMers were here prior to COVID, how are they responsible for bringing the disease over the borders? Read a book on foreign policy and educate yourself on The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)... or just GTFO of America. We have enough of your pathetic excuse of "Americans" living here and driving the country into the ground already. Like For real, go. Your type is NOT wanted by the majority of people living here and this is a democracy... so go. Before we take it to a vote and you have agents showing up at your door removing you from "your country". Pathetic Child.
  
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