[Excess deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile].

BACKGROUND

Excess all-cause mortality is an epidemiologic tool to assess the impact of pandemics or other events on the population.

AIM

To assess the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on excess all-cause mortality in Chile.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Mortality databases available at the website of the Department of Statistics of the Chilean Ministry of Health were analyzed. Monthly mortality in the 2015-2019 period and was used as a criterion for comparison with the mortality observed in the first six months of 2020. The number of expected deaths (95% CI) and their monthly rates are calculated. The impact of the pandemic on the mortality of two territorial groupings (Metropolitan region and the other regions) and different age groups was evaluated.

RESULTS

At the country level there was an excess of 8,336 deaths between March and June 2020. In the same period, 10,105 deaths from COVID-19 were observed (7,020 confirmed by laboratory and 3,085 probable). The highest mortality was observed in the Metropolitan region and the higher rates were observed during May and June. People aged between 60 and 80 years had the greatest mortality rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The oldest age groups were the most vulnerable in terms of mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile.