All-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru

Abstract

There was heterogeneity in the median age of all-cause deaths in Peru during different waves of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Before predominance of the Omicron variant, the median age of deaths was lower than normal during the peaks of daily all-cause mortality. However, this increased above normal when the Omicron variant was predominant. The daily patterns of cause-specific deaths related directly and indirectly to COVID-19 in Peru were also investigated. Most excess deaths indirectly related to COVID-19 were caused primarily by diseases of the circulatory system, possibly due to disruption of medical services, and the majority of excess deaths directly related to COVID-19 were caused primarily by COVID-19 and diseases of the respiratory system.