“Excess Mortality and COVID-19 Impact in Hanover Municipalties: Statistical Analysis and Findings”

REGION

Has COVID-19 led to excess mortality in the municipalities in the Hanover area? Between 2.6 percent and 5.6 percent of all deaths there from 2020 to 2022 were directly related to COVID-19, the Hanover region reports. But when assessing whether there is excess mortality, the statisticians of the Hanover region come to differentiated answers. Their conclusion: For the 20 municipalities in the area surrounding the state capital, there is an increase in deaths in the years 2020 to 2022. But the connection with the corona pandemic cannot be made easily.

The analysis also had to take into account, among other things, the aging of the pre-war baby boomer generation and the associated age-specific excess mortality. All information can be found in the current Statistical Brief Information 6/2023 “Excess mortality in connection with COVID-19 in the cities and communities in the surrounding area”. It is available for download below www.hannover.de ready.

In principle, only those cases were counted as corona deaths in which an infection with the virus had previously been determined by a corresponding test and in which the viral disease was assessed as the cause of death (died from the virus). On the other hand, there may be other deaths where the virus has not been detected by testing, but an infection would be obvious, or where another disease is the cause of death (died with the virus).

The differences and the deaths over time from 2020 to 2022 do not show a uniform picture. Mortality was also influenced by various additional factors: In the course of the corona pandemic, numerous measures were implemented to slow down or stop the spread of the virus. However, excess mortality from COVID-19 cannot be ruled out for 60 to 69 year olds, 80 to 89 year olds and over 90 year olds in 2021 and 2022. “In the other age groups, however, excess mortality caused by COVID-19 is more likely to be denied,” explain the statisticians of the Hanover region. The figures provide a differentiated picture for the age groups 0-39, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89 and over 90 years.