Mortality levels approaching normal in Europe

Pooled estimates of all-cause mortality for the countries in the EuroMOMO network are approaching normal levels, following a period of a substantial excess mortality observed in some countries coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. A few countries are still seeing some excess mortality.

The excess mortality has been seen primarily in the age group of ≥65 years, but also in the age group of 45-64 years and even in the age group of 15-44 years.

For the EuroMOMO network as a whole, from week 10, 2020 and as of week 22, there were over 172,400 excess deaths estimated in total, including 157,400 deaths in the age group ≥65 years, 12,900 deaths in the age group 45-64 years and 1,500 deaths in the age group 15-44 years . This time period includes part of the influenza season as well as the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Importantly, the mortality estimates for the most recent weeks must be read with caution, despite the applied correction for delay in registration.

Note on data update from Spain

This week, the mortality data in Spain have been corrected upwards, due to under-notification of deaths in the civil registers during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase corresponds to deaths recorded during the last three months in Spain.

Note on delayed data in Ireland

In Ireland, as a result of very significant delays in death registrations during March and April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, weekly z-scores of excess all-cause mortality do not reflect current COVID-19 (and non-COVID-19) excess mortality in Ireland. Further data on notified COVID-19 deaths in Ireland are available on the HPSC.ie website

Note on interpretation of data: The number of deaths shown for the three most recent weeks should be interpreted with caution, as adjustments for delayed registrations may be imprecise. Furthermore, results of pooled analyses may vary depending on countries included in the weekly analyses. Pooled analyses are adjusted for variation between the included countries and for differences in the local delay in reporting

About EuroMOMO network data sharing and collaboration

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, information on its mortality impact is of major concern. The EuroMOMO network hub receives many questions about the weekly mortality data we present, as well as requests to share the underlying national data. While the network fully supports data sharing, the network hub is not mandated by the participating countries to release any national data. If you are interested in accessing national data, please approach countries individually.

The EuroMOMO network welcomes collaboration with external partners, e.g. about additional analyses and modelling to be performed. If you are interested in engaging with the network about any such collaboration, please forward your ideas to the hub, for wider sharing and dialogue with the network.

Kindly note that any use of data or information originating from the EuroMOMO website must be appropriately quoted and acknowledged.