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Accurate death stats are vital but absent as SA hits peak, warn experts

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South Africa Headlines News

Scientists have been wondering why SA’s case fatality rates for Covid-19 are lower than those of its global counterparts, but now a major question is being asked: are our mortality statistics even accurate?

The Burden of Disease Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council brings out a weekly report on natural and unnatural deaths on the national population register.

By the second week of July, “there were 59% more deaths from natural causes than would have been expected based on historical data. It also means that reported deaths have shown a pattern that is completely different to those indicated by historical trends.”Prof Debbie Bradshaw, chief specialist scientist and a co-author of the report, said “the timing and geographic pattern” immediately raise the issue of Covid-19 deaths and the accuracy of our fatality stats.

While many of the deaths are likely direct Covid-19 deaths, others could result from other diseases not being managed optimally as the health system turns its attention to the pandemic. Bradshaw, and colleagues at the council Pamela Groenewald, Oluwatoyin Awotiwon and Lyn Hanmer, called for more accurate registrations of Covid-19 deaths in the latest South African Medical Journal.For example, if someone with diabetes dies of Covid-19 as a result of their comorbidity placing them at much higher risk of death in the first place, some officials would register the death as being due to diabetes and others as a Covid-19 death.

 

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