Covid resulted in increased elderly deaths, study finds

The Covid-19 pandemic inadvertently raised the mortality rate among those aged 65 and above, a study by the health ministry has found.

The study, which focused on mortalities in Perak, revealed that the total number of deaths — caused by Covid-19 or non-virus-related ailments — in this age group rose between 2020 and 2023. There was a total of 22,319 deaths in this four-year period.

In comparison, there were 20,989 deaths between 2016 to 2019.

According to the study, the pandemic and the subsequent movement control order — put in place to curb the virus’s spread — could have led to missed appointments or delayed procedures for many patients with prolonged health complications, especially those with non-communicable diseases.

“There were changes in (the schedule for) seeking treatment especially among patients because of travel restrictions and the fear of contracting Covid-19 from healthcare centres,” the report said.

The study, titled “Mortality trends from 2010-2023 and excess mortalities in Perak during the Covid-19 pandemic”, also showed that the pandemic likely disrupted healthcare services, including resource diversion toward the pandemic and many shortages due to limited resources.

“These factors could have contributed to the increase in the number of deaths, caused by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic rather than directly from the infection.”

In 2021, the head of a private hospital said the pandemic exposed the acute shortage of healthcare resources in Malaysia, from medical equipment to capacity and talent.

While the study focused on Perak, which has a high proportion of residents aged 65 and above, similar trends are likely to be found in districts with large numbers of elderly in the population.

The study noted that Germany also witnessed a similar trend where Covid-19 deaths were said to “have been highly associated with the government’s response in terms of tight regulations and adherence”.

Conversely, the movement restrictions imposed in Malaysia led to fewer deaths among those aged 19 and below.

According to the study, the deaths — attributed to Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 causes — dropped in the younger age groups compared to deaths recorded in previous years.

The movement control order led to fewer cars on the road, with automotive portal paultan.org reporting that Malaysian users drove 80% fewer kilometres during the MCO period.

With fewer cars on the road, there were fewer accidents and therefore fewer deaths among those in the age group, according to the study.

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