Study Shockingly Finds That Many Excess Deaths Attributed To Natural Causes In America Were Actually Uncounted COVID-19 Deaths!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 07, 2024 9 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 8 hours, 53 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: The COVID-19 pandemic has been marked by unprecedented challenges, with official death counts providing only a partial understanding of its true impact. A groundbreaking study covered in this
COVID-19 News report, by researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) reveals shocking findings that challenge earlier assertions about excess deaths in the United States. This study presents compelling evidence that many excess deaths attributed to natural causes were, in fact, uncounted COVID-19 deaths. The implications of this research extend beyond the immediate health crisis, reshaping our understanding of the pandemic's toll on American lives.
Many Excess Deaths Attributed To Natural Causes In America
Were Actually Uncounted COVID-19 Deaths
Background
Official records indicate that nearly 1,170,000 individuals in the United States have succumbed to COVID-19. However, multiple excess mortality studies have consistently suggested significant undercounts in these figures. Excess mortality, reflecting deaths beyond the expected baseline, provides a critical metric for understanding the true impact of the pandemic. While previous research raised questions about the contribution of COVID-19 to excess deaths, the latest study shifts the narrative by establishing a concrete link between uncounted COVID-19 deaths and excess mortality from natural causes.
Methodology and Key Findings
The study utilized a Bayesian hierarchical model to analyze excess natural-cause deaths in 3,127 U.S. counties over the first 30 months of the pandemic, from March 2020 to August 2022. Shockingly, the research discovered that out of 1,194,610 excess natural-cause deaths, a staggering 13.6% (162,886 deaths) went unreported as COVID-19 deaths. This reveals a significant underestimation of the pandemic's toll, challenging earlier assumptions about the primary causes of excess deaths.
Temporal Correlations
By comparing reported COVID-19 deaths with excess deaths due to non-COVID natural causes, the researchers identified a striking temporal correlation. Increases in non-COVID excess deaths occurred simultaneously or in the month preceding reported COVID-19 deaths in most U.S. counties. This pattern challenges the notion that excess deaths resulted from factors such as health care disruptions or socioeconomic challenges. Instead, it suggests that many uncounted COVID-19 deaths were missed due to low community awareness and insufficient testing.
Regional Disparities
The study uncovered significant geographic variations in the undercounting of COVID-19 deaths. Nonmetropolitan counties, the West, and the South exhibited the largest gaps between reported COVID-19 deaths and excess natural-cause deaths. This divergence could be attributed to limited COVID-19 testing, deaths outside of hospitals, and variations in death investigation practices.
>Understanding these regional differences is crucial for targeted resource allocation and improved pandemic preparedness.
Disproving Alternate Explanations: The research effectively refutes high-profile claims attributing excess deaths to factors such as COVID-19 vaccinations or shelter-in-place policies. By focusing on excess deaths from natural causes, the study eliminates external factors, providing a clearer picture of the true impact of COVID-19. This comprehensive analysis discredits political assertions and public beliefs that have previously muddled the understanding of mortality patterns during the pandemic.
Implications for Public Health Policy
The study's findings have critical implications for public health policies, responses, and future pandemic preparedness efforts. The researchers emphasize the need to consider geographic variation in the quality of mortality surveillance data when targeting resources during public health emergencies. Incomplete or delayed cause-of-death reporting may lead to ineffective and inequitable responses, highlighting the importance of strengthening the death investigation system.
Conclusion
This alarming study, shedding light on the hidden toll of COVID-19, challenges prevailing narratives surrounding excess deaths in the United States. By providing concrete data linking uncounted COVID-19 deaths to excess mortality from natural causes, the research calls for a reevaluation of public health strategies and the death investigation system. Acknowledging the regional variations uncovered in the study is crucial for ensuring equitable responses to future health emergencies. As we navigate the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, these revelations underscore the importance of accurate data in understanding the true impact of infectious diseases on society.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2313661121
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