Excess Mortality Figures Shows That More Young Adults In The United States And United Kingdom Are Dying Early!

Excess Mortality: The specter of excess mortality looms ominously over the United States and the United Kingdom, transcending the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent figures reveal a distressing surge in early deaths, particularly among young adults, necessitating urgent scrutiny from public health officials, insurers, and policymakers. This Excess Mortality news report delves deeper into the staggering statistics, shedding light on the profound implications of this crisis.
 


The Unsettling Landscape in the United States
In a sobering acknowledgment of a "catastrophic" decline in U.S. life expectancy, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf brought attention to a crisis that extends far beyond the purview of common public discourse.
https://twitter.com/DrCaliff_FDA/status/1730298837950927246
 
Shockingly, excess deaths in the first nine months of 2023 have surpassed grim milestones, claiming 158,000 more lives than during the same period in 2019.
https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=104676
 
This stark reality eclipses the combined losses from every conflict since the Vietnam War. The insurance industry, a vigilant observer of societal trends, has consistently raised alarm bells over these unexpected deaths, prompting a call for immediate investigation and intervention.
 
The Alarming Actuarial Reports
Actuarial reports, the bedrock of insurance decisions, reveal a disturbing pattern of excess deaths disproportionately affecting young working-age individuals.
https://www.soa.org/4ac0fd/globalassets/assets/files/resources/experience-studies/2023/group-life-covid-mort-06-23.pdf
 
Contrary to the expectation that the worst of COVID-19 would recede, the death toll among the traditionally healthiest sector - those who are young, employed, and insured - remains persistently high. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) decision to archive its excess deaths webpage in September 2023 has left a void in monitoring this alarming trend. Meanwhile, the financial burden on the insurance industry continues to mount, with death claims reaching unprecedented levels.
 
Demographics in Distress
Unlike the initial phase of the pandemic, the current surge in excess deaths is not confined to the elderly. According to a report from the Society of Actuaries, deaths among individuals aged 65 and over in the second quarter of 2023 were 6 percent below pre-pandemic norms.
https://www.soa.org/4ac0fd/globalassets/assets/files/resources/experience-studies/2023/group-life-covid-mort-06-23.pdf
 
Astonishingly, mortality rates were 26 percent higher among insured 35-to-44-year-olds and 19 percent higher for those aged 25-to-34. Actuarial analyses have identified increases in mortality due to liver, kidney, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as diabetes and drug overdoses. These findings deepen the mystery surrounding the elevated mortality rates among the traditionally healthiest demographic.
 
A Call for Urgent Investigation
The urgency of the situation is underscored by predictions from actuaries and industry analysts, forecasting that excess deaths among the insured population will persist through 2030, particularly targeting younger age groups. This prediction defies conventional expectations and raises concerns about the broader impact on disability-afflicted and poorly insured Americans. A comprehensive investigation into the measures taken during the pandemic and their consequences is imperative. Congress must lead a high-level, unbiased commission to assess what worked and what did not to protect future generations and prepare for potential future pandemics.
 
The UK's Parallel Crisis
Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom is grappling with a parallel crisis of excess deaths, particularly among middle-aged adults. Analysis of official statistics reveals an additional 28,000 deaths in the first six months of 2023 compared to the previous five years.
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2666-7762%2823%2900221-1
 
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1131428/excess-deaths-in-england-and-wales/
 
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/excess-mortality-in-england-and-english-regions#full-publication-update-history
 
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/excessdeathsinenglandandwales
 
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12862953/Hundreds-middle-aged-adults-dying-month-Covid-ended.html
 
This surge, concentrated among adults aged 50 to 64, is linked to preventable conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The ongoing Covid inquiry in the UK is now being urged to shift its focus from tactical political decisions to the persistently high death toll and the lasting disruptions since the pandemic's peak.
 
Delving Deeper into UK's Excess Deaths
Further analysis of official figures paints a vivid picture of the crisis unfolding in the UK. A staggering 8.6 percent increase in deaths during the first six months of 2023, compared to the average of the previous five years, represents an additional 28,024 fatalities. Among the age group of 50 to 64, there is a notable 15 percent increase in deaths, translating to 8,407 more deaths than expected over the course of a year, or around 700 per month. The trend is exacerbated by the fact that more people are dying at home rather than in hospitals, signifying a complex challenge that requires multifaceted solutions.
 
Expert Perspectives on UK's Crisis
Noteworthy voices in the public health arena, including Professor Dr Yvonne Doyle, the former medical director of Public Health England, emphasize that these excess deaths are driven by an "underlying pandemic of ill health." Lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cirrhosis are identified as the primary culprits. Professor Doyle criticizes the Covid inquiry for its myopic focus on tactical political decisions, urging a shift in attention towards broader health reforms. She advocates for addressing the root causes of ill health, including unhealthy diets and a lack of social care funding, as critical lessons to be learned from the ongoing crisis.
 
Comparative Analysis: The UK vs. Other Economies
In a disconcerting revelation, the UK is revealed to be faring worse than other leading economies in terms of chronic illness and excess deaths. A record 2.6 million people are off work with long-term sickness, underscoring the gravity of the health crisis. A Lancet study suggests that excess deaths in the UK were 7.2 percent higher than the average over the previous five years in 2022, resulting in 44,255 unexpected deaths. For the first half of 2023, deaths are 8.6 percent higher than normal, equivalent to more than 1,000 extra deaths per week. The disproportionate impact on middle-aged and younger adults is a stark departure from the focus on older adults during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Diagnosing the Causes: Ambulance Delays and A&E Pressures
Experts point to a myriad of causes contributing to the crisis in the UK. Long delays in ambulance waiting times, intensified A&E pressures, and record NHS waiting lists all play a role in diminishing survival chances for emergencies like heart attacks and strokes. The surge in excess deaths is further compounded by the strain on GP services, resulting in delayed diagnoses and management of chronic diseases. The interconnected web of challenges demands a comprehensive approach to enhance healthcare access, streamline emergency response systems, and address systemic issues within the healthcare infrastructure.
 
The Call for Holistic Solutions
The gravity of the crisis in both the United States and the United Kingdom necessitates a holistic and evidence-based approach. The interplay of factors such as disrupted access to healthcare, delayed diagnoses, and the overarching impact of lifestyle-related diseases demands urgent attention. While the focus has been on pandemic response measures, the collateral damage on mental health, education, and preventative care has been profound. As public health officials grapple with these complexities, a call for broader health reforms becomes imperative.
 
Conclusion
The burgeoning early mortality rates among young adults in the US and the UK demand immediate attention and an evidence-based approach rooted in comprehensive investigations. Beyond the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, excess deaths persist, calling for an in-depth analysis of the measures taken and their repercussions. Both nations must prioritize addressing the underlying pandemic of ill health, encompassing lifestyle-related diseases, access to healthcare, and systemic issues. Only through a collective and decisive approach can these nations safeguard future generations and fortify their resilience against potential future pandemics.
 
Thailand Medical News would like to add based on preliminary data that we have with regards to the BA.2.86 variant and its emerging spawns such as JN.1 and their usage of new receptors and mechanisms of cell entry along with preliminary data on their pathogenesis and also datasets of host genetic phenotypes, we envisage that  the Western populations in North America, Europe and Australia are likely to be more impacted by these variants and will also suffer more from severe long COVID issues and also face added risk of mortality.
 
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