An international comparison of age and sex dependency of COVID-19 deaths in 2020: a descriptive analysis

The number of reported coronavirus disease (COVID-19) deaths per 100,000 persons observed so far in 2020 is described in 15 European countries and the USA as dependent on age groups and sex. It is compared with the corresponding historic all-cause mortality per year depending on age and sex observed in these countries. Some common features exist although substantial differences in age and sex dependency of COVID-19 mortality were noted between countries. An exponential increase with age is a good model to describe and analyze both COVID-19 and all-cause mortality above 40 years old, where almost all COVID-19 deaths occur. Moreover, age dependency is stronger for COVID-19 mortality than for all-cause mortality, and males have an excess risk compared with women, which is less pronounced in the higher age groups. Additionally, concerning calendar time, differences in the age and sex dependency between countries were noted with the common tendency that male excess risk for COVID-19 mortality was smaller in the second half of the year.

Automated summary

A study of 15 European countries and the USA in 2020 showed that COVID-19 mortality rates increase exponentially with age above 40 years old. The age dependency of COVID-19 mortality is stronger than that of all-cause mortality, with males having a slightly higher risk compared to females, but with a smaller excess risk in the second half of the year.