#COVID19 #Mortality #Pandemic #Overreporting #PublicHealth #CDC #Influenza #Epidemiology
A new analysis, as reported by The Epoch Times and conducted on a preprint paper published in Research Gate, suggests significant overreporting of COVID-19 as an underlying cause of death, which has led to inflated mortality numbers during the pandemic. This analysis delved into the discrepancies between deaths reported “from” versus “with” COVID-19, attempting to shed light on the true impact of the virus compared to deaths from other causes such as influenza and pneumonia. By calculating an overreporting adjustment factor and examining death certificate data from 2020 to 2022, researchers aimed to provide a clearer picture of the pandemic’s death toll.
The methodology involved comparing the reporting of COVID-19 as a multiple or contributing cause of death versus its reporting as an underlying cause. A notable finding was that COVID-19 was overreported as an underlying cause by approximately three times for all ages when compared to influenza and pneumonia during the same period. Interestingly, the reporting of influenza and pneumonia-related deaths as underlying causes was only about one-third, whereas almost all COVID-19-related deaths were reported as “deaths from” the virus. This discrepancy highlights a systematic overreporting pattern that could have significant implications for public health data and policy.
The criteria outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adopted by the United States for categorizing COVID-19-related deaths have been critiqued for their potential to overcount deaths relative to other diseases. This broad categorization includes deaths where COVID-19 was deemed either the underlying cause or a contributing factor. In addition, incentives for recording positive COVID-19 tests and the liberal approach taken by health officials in attributing deaths to COVID-19 may have contributed to an overreporting bias. Furthermore, the acknowledgment of deaths attributed to long COVID, even without a recent positive test for the virus, introduces another layer to the complexity of accurately determining the pandemic’s mortality impact.
The analysis outlined in the preprint paper and further discussions raise significant questions about the accuracy of COVID-19 mortality data and the methods used to classify deaths during the pandemic. With an overreporting factor at play, the distinction between dying “from” versus “with” COVID-19 becomes critically important in understanding the true lethality of the virus and making informed public health decisions. These revelations could prompt a reevaluation of pandemic data and encourage more accurate reporting practices in the future, potentially influencing how health data is collected and analyzed during ongoing and future public health crises.
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