Excess mortality in Europe estimated by EuroMOMO during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous influenza seasons
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Important questions remain regarding differences in geographical and age-specific mortality patterns as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved in consecutive waves, and how COVID-19 mortality compares to seasonal influenza. In a pandemic situation, excess all-cause mortality provides a more complete and robust measure than cause-specific mortality. Data submitted by 26 countries participating in the European Mortality Monitoring (EuroMOMO) network between 2020 and 2023 was analysed to quantify excess all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Excess mortality from this period was compared to previous influenza seasons from 2014 to 2019. Pooled estimates of excess mortality showed four main waves during the COVID-19 pandemic period, most markedly in people aged 65 years and above, with timing and magnitude that varied between countries. Here we show that prior to implementation of control measures and COVID-19 vaccination, excess mortality greatly exceeded typical seasonal influenza mortality, but later during the pandemic was at levels comparable to influenza. This paper reports the excess mortality estimated during the evolving consecutive waves of COVID-19 in countries participating in the European Mortality Monitoring Network (EuroMOMO) in 2020-2023 and how they compare to recent influenza seasons.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Sarah K. Nørgaard, Jens Nielsen, Christel B. Schjørring, Albert S. Kalnæs, Lukas Richter, Alena Chalupka, Toon Braeye, Serge Nganda Mekogo, Maria Athanasiadou, Theodore Lytras, Gleb Denissov, Oskari Luomala, Isabelle Pontais, Benedikt Zacher, Matthias an der Heiden, Kassiani Mellou, Ioannis Panagoulias, Anna Paldy, Tibor Malnasi, Eva Kelly, Naama Rotem, Francesca K. de’Donato, Chiara Di Blasi, Joël Mossong, Anne Vergison, Kathleen England, Neville Calleja, Liselotte van Asten, Jan van de Kassteele, Christian Madsen, Susana Silva, Ana Paula Rodrigues, Natalija Kranjec, Inmaculada León-Gómez, Diana Gomez-Barroso, Ilias Galanis, Ahmed Farah, Rolf Weitkunat, Nick Andrews, Tom Clare, Magda Bucholc, Declan T. Bradley, Naoma William, Mark Hamilton, Pernille Jorgensen, Richard G. Pebody, Nick Bundle, Bolette Søborg, Tyra G. Krause, Kåre Mølbak, Lasse S. Vestergaard
Institutions: Statens Serum Institut, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Sciensano (Belgium), Ministry of Health, European University Cyprus, National Institute for Health Development, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Santé Publique France, Robert Koch Institute, National Public Health Organization, Health Protection Surveillance Centre, ASL Roma, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, National Institute of Public Health, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Federal Statistical Office, UK Health Security Agency, Public Health Agency, Public Health Scotland, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Language: English
Subfield: Modeling and Simulation
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W7124301905