Open AccessExcess mortality by specific causes of deaths in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Gisele Aparecida Fernandes,
Antônio Paulo Nassar,
Gulnar Azevedo e Silva,
Diego Feriani,
Ivan Leonardo Avelino França e Silva,
Pedro Caruso,
María Paula Curado
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0252238
Subject(s) - standardized mortality ratio , excess mortality , medicine , demography , pandemic , covid-19 , mortality rate , population , ecological study , environmental health , disease , sociology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Background To investigate the excess of deaths by specific causes, in the first half of 2020 in the city of São Paulo-Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Ecological study conducted from 01/01 to 06/30 of 2019 and 2020. Population and mortality data were obtained from DATASUS. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) by age was calculated by comparing the standardized mortality rate in 2020 to that of 2019, for overall and specific mortality. The ratio between the standardized mortality rate due to COVID-19 in men as compared to women was calculated for 2020. Crude mortality rates were standardized using the direct method. Results COVID-19 was responsible for 94.4% of the excess deaths in São Paulo. In 2020 there was an increase in overall mortality observed among both men (SMR 1.3, 95% CI 1.17–1.42) and women (SMR 1.2, 95% CI 1.06–1.36) as well as a towards reduced mortality for all cancers. Mortality due to COVID-19 was twice as high for men as for women (SMR 2.1, 95% CI 1.67–2.59). There was an excess of deaths observed in men above 45 years of age, and in women from the age group of 60 to 79 years. Conclusion There was an increase in overall mortality during the first six months of 2020 in São Paulo, which seems to be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic health conditions, such as cancer and other non-communicable diseases, should not be disregarded.