Changes in mortality trends amongst common diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

Abstract

Objective: It has been found that COVID-19 increases deaths within common diseases in countries that have implemented strict lockdowns. In order to elucidate the proper national response to a pandemic, the mortality rates within COVID-19 and various diseases need to be studied in countries whose pandemic response differ. Sweden represents a country with lax pandemic restrictions, and we aimed to study the effects of COVID-19 on historical mortality rates within common diseases during 2020. Methods: Regression models and moving averages were used to predict expected premature mortality per the ICD-10 during 2020 using historical data sets. Predicted values were then compared to recorded premature mortality to identify changes in mortality trends. Results: Seasonal increased mortality was found within neurological diseases. Infectious diseases, tumours and cardiac disease mortality rates decreased compared to expected outcome. Conclusions: Changes in mortality trends were observed for several common diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurological and cardiac conditions, infections and tumours are examples of diseases that were heavily affected by the pandemic. The indirect effects of COVID-19 on certain patient populations should be considered when determining pandemic impact.

Parkinson’s disease related mortality: Long-term trends and impact of COVID-19 pandemic waves

“…Nonetheless, sparse data are available about the impact of the pandemic on PD-related mortality at the population level. During 2020 in Sweden there was an increase in the years of potential life lost from PD, limited to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic [ 10 ]. In England a 26% excess deaths from PD was observed between March and June 2020, mostly accounted by deaths without mention of COVID-19.…”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality in people with dementia without COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A total of 11 published studies were included (17,(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41). The majority of studies were cohort studies.…”

“…The geographical location of the studies included four studies from the US (37-40), three from the UK (32,33,41), two from Italy (34,35), one from Norway (36) and one from Sweden (17). Six studies used nation-level population data (17,34,36,37,39,40), two studies used primary care data (32,41), one study included data from an insurance registry (38), and two studies focused on smaller regional death registries (33,35). Studies varied in the time periods examined, only four studies consisted of data analysis of deaths stretching a time period of at least a year (17,33,39,41).…”

“…Six studies used nation-level population data (17,34,36,37,39,40), two studies used primary care data (32,41), one study included data from an insurance registry (38), and two studies focused on smaller regional death registries (33,35). Studies varied in the time periods examined, only four studies consisted of data analysis of deaths stretching a time period of at least a year (17,33,39,41). Six studies focused on the rst half of 2020 during the time when the world was experiencing the rst wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (32,(35)(36)(37).…”

“…Non-communicable disease has been noted to be affected by the pandemic with fewer cancer diagnoses, increased mortality amongst patients with neurological diseases, and fewer planned surgeries (15)(16)(17). Discussions have taken place about the increased mortality and infection rates in care homes, places were most are elderly, and many have dementia (18,19).…”