More Than 20,000 People Died ‘From or With’ COVID-19 in Australia: ABS

Vaccine strategy targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus is challenged in the COVID-19 battle. Shutterstock/Lightspring

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has received more than 20,000 death registrations of people who “died from or with COVID-19.”

The Bureau said 20,170, out of a total of 627,645 death registrations between March 2020 and September 2023 were from or with the virus. This represents 3.2 percent of all deaths in Australia.

COVID-19 was the “underlying cause of death” for 15,920 (2.54 percent), while 4,250 “died of other causes” with COVID-19 as a contributing factor.

Among men, 86.8 percent of COVID-19 death registrations were over 70 years of age, 64 percent were more than 80 years, and 25 percent were more than 90 years of age.

Out of the women, 90 percent of COVID-19 death registrations were over 70 years, 75 percent were over 80, and 39 percent were aged over 90.

The ABS said the “WHO defines the underlying cause of death as the disease or condition that initiated the train of morbid events leading to death.”

Chronic Cardiac Condition

Chronic cardiac condition was the leading pre-existing condition for those who “had COVID-19 certified as the underlying cause of death,” the ABS noted. This was followed by dementia, chronic respiratory conditions, and cancer.

The ABS narrowed down further on the 15,920 deaths that were directly attributed to COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death.

Registered deaths “due to COVID-19” fell significantly in every month of 2023 compared to the corresponding month in 2022.

For example, in July 2022, about 1,408 deaths were attributed to the virus. In 2023, this dropped 77 percent to 319. In June 2023, 579 deaths were cited as COVID-19-related, compared to 888 in June 2022.

“For every month in 2023, deaths due to COVID-19 have been below the level of the comparable month in 2022,” the ABS said.

“Deaths due to COVID-19 have decreased in July 2023 after a relatively small peak in May and June.”

Only 650 out of the 15,920 deaths had COVID-19 reported alone on the certificate.

The statistics include all COVID-19 deaths, both doctor and coroner-certified, that were registered as of Sept. 30, 2023.

In August 2023, 147 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 based on the stats, while 61 have been registered so far in September.

“The number of deaths occurring in August and September 2023 is not reflective of the true total and will increase as additional death registrations are received by the ABS,” the ABS said.

The Bureau said cumulatively, the highest number of COVID-19 deaths took place during the Omicron wave.

Looking at the stats in more detail, the ABS reveals that during each year of the pandemic, the highest number of COVID-19 death registrations were among people aged 80 to 89 years.

However, among females, those aged over 90 accounted for the most COVID-19 death registrations.

“In 2022 and 2023, the female age group with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths was those aged over 90 years,” the ABS said.

“Males aged under 80 years had a higher number of deaths than females (3,104 compared with 1,774).”

Pre-Existing Conditions

Out of the pre-existing chronic conditions certified with COVID-19 deaths, 5,137 had chronic cardiac conditions and 3,860 had dementia.

A further 2,343 had chronic respiratory conditions, 2,198 had cancer, 1,983 had diabetes, 1,678 had chronic kidney diseases, and 1645 had hypertension.

Further, 815 had musculoskeletal disorders, 506 had chronic cerebrovascular diseases, 486 had Parkinson’s disease, and 231 had obesity.

Overall, 12,971 of COVID-19 deaths had a chronic condition certified, the ABS stats show.

Only 650 out of the 15,920 deaths had COVID-19 reported alone on the certificate.