Excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: associations with people's medical history and sociodemographic characteristics

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 3.3% increase in mortality compared to before the pandemic. This is why we speak of excess mortality. Nivel investigated this using existing data sources, such as data from general practitioners, on death and personal characteristics. Excess mortality occurred mainly during the various periods in which the number of COVID-19 infections increased and among people aged between 65 and 74, compared to the 5 years before the pandemic. People with a non-Western migration background and people with a low household income were hit hardest by this, especially if they also had one or more health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a greater effect on the risk of death among these groups compared to the general population. This emphasises the need to better protect vulnerable people against death in general and specifically during periods in which our public health is threatened, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.