AJPH 10/2024: "THE CRITICAL ROLE OF EXCESS MORTALITY IN SHAPING PUBLIC HEALTH DECISIONS" (ENGLISH)

American Journal of Public Health Podcast

Alfredo Morabia and Prof. Vickie Mays (UCLA) from AJPH interview Profs Neil Pearce (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), Andrew C. Stokes (Boston University School of Public Health), and Jan P Vandenbroucke (Leiden University Medical Center, Dept. Clinical Epidemiology) in a compelling discussion about excess mortality and its significance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why might excess mortality be a more accurate measure than COVID-19-specific mortality? What is the theoretical foundation for using excess mortality as an evaluative tool? How can excess mortality help determine whether countries or regions performed ‘equally well’ during the pandemic? Can it provide insights into what strategies worked—or didn’t—during the crisis? Despite delays in obtaining mortality data, how can excess mortality be used to track health emergencies in real time? Finally, what key recommendations should guide those using excess mortality as an outcome measure? Join us for this insightful conversation to better understand the critical role of excess mortality in shaping public health decisions and pandemic evaluations.