The COVID-19 pandemic has shaved more than nine million years off aggregate life expectancy in the U.S.
That’s according to a recent microsimulation study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. In the U.S., more than 677,000 people have died from the COVID-19 virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, more than 42 million cases have been reported in the last 30 days.
That burden of death has led to a severe drop in aggregate life expectancy in the U.S. However, the loss has not been equal. Black and Hispanic persons have lost twice as many quality adjusted life years (QALYs) per capita compared to their White peers, according to researchers from the University of Southern California.
Men 65 and older in Black and Hispanic populations lost 1,138 and 1,371 QALYs, respectively, per 10 000 persons, the study found.
“Beyond excess deaths alone, the COVID-19 pandemic imposed a greater life expectancy burden on persons aged 25 to 64 years, including those with average or above-average life expectancies, and a disproportionate burden on Black and Hispanic communities,” wrote first author Julai Reif, PhD, et al.
Analyzing the mortality burden of the virus required researchers to do more than just look at excess deaths, which would underestimate the effect on young and middle-aged adults who have a longer life expectancy than older, sicker adults. Therefore, they looked at years of life lost (YLLs) and QALYs.
The findings may help policymakers address the pandemic’s disparities across demographics.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."