The Los Angeles Post

COVID-Associated Deaths Drive All-Cause Mortality Rate Increases in LA County Since 2020

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1,017 New Positive Cases and 14 New Deaths Due to COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

While COVID-19 mortality is down this year, the impact of COVID-associated deaths remains significant and concerning, according to a new analysis by the Department of Public Health which found a vast majority of increases in all-cause mortality were due to COVID-associated deaths.

The Public Health data analysis reviewed COVID and non-COVID mortality rates for four 6-month periods of January through June, from 2019 to 2022. During the ten-year period ending in 2019, before the pandemic, the all-cause mortality rate had been stable with a slight downward trend.

The most dramatic finding is that when the pandemic started, the all-cause mortality rate for the first half of 2020 increased from about 298 deaths per 100,000 people to almost 336 deaths per 100,000 people. In 2021, it increased even more significantly to almost 400 deaths per 100,000 people. During the first half of 2022, it dropped back to about 336 deaths, but this is still considerably higher compared to the 2019 all-cause mortality rate.

The majority of these increases in all-cause mortality were due to COVID-associated deaths, but COVID deaths do not account for all of the increase. The COVID-19 pandemic also may have led to more deaths from other causes through delayed care for other conditions, health systems being overwhelmed, or people being apprehensive about potential exposure to the virus.

The leading causes of death shifted during the pandemic. For the first six months of 2019 and 2020, coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death, with just over 50 deaths per 100,000 people. Although COVID cases didn’t rise until March 2020, deaths associated with COVID increased dramatically and COVID mortality became the second leading cause of death for the first six months of 2020, with 28 deaths per 100,000 people.

In 2021, COVID was by far, the leading cause of death, causing almost 96 deaths per 100,000 people, while coronary heart disease continued to be responsible for about the same number of deaths – about 51 deaths per 100,000 people. For the first half of 2022, coronary heart disease again was the leading cause of death, with COVID close behind as the second-leading cause of death.

The analysis also recognized that the COVID-specific mortality rate in 2022 among Latinos and Blacks is about twice as high compared to the rate among Asians and Whites.

The analysis reviewed mortality rates by age groups and found that while death rates associated with COVID have been highest among older residents, younger adults experienced a greater increase in mortality rates than older adults, when comparing 2022 to 2019. For example, the all-cause mortality rate in 2022 is 29% higher for 18-to-29-year-olds, and 36% higher for 30-to-49-year-olds compared to their respective rates in 2019. By contrast, the all-cause mortality rate in 2022 vs. 2019 is 12% higher for 50-to-64-year-olds, 15% higher for 65-to-79-year-olds, and 6.5% higher among those 80 years and older.

To reduce the high death rates associated with COVID, residents should use all the resources available to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. While vaccines and boosters play a critical role, therapeutics can also play an important role.

There are four different COVID-19 therapeutics that healthcare providers have available to treat people with symptoms of COVID. The specific medication they choose to treat a patient will depend on a variety of factors, including the patient’s prior medical history and response to other medications.

For those at higher risk for severe illness, telehealth allows residents who have tested positive for COVID to be screened for and access therapeutics from their home. If eligible for treatment, a prescription can be called into a local pharmacy or overnight shipped to the patient’s home.

If a resident’s regular provider doesn’t offer telehealth services, or a resident does not have a provider, they can call the Public Health Tele-Health Service at 1-833-540-0473, which is open 7 days a week from 8:00am – 8:30pm. The Public Health Tele-Health Service and medications are offered free of charge.

Currently, the county overall continues to report improved COVID-19 metrics. The 7-day average case count in the county is 874, an 8% decline from one week ago when the 7-day average of 946 cases was reported.

Over the past seven days, the average number of daily COVID-positive patients in LA County hospitals declined slightly to 404, a 13% decline from one week ago when the average number of daily COVID-positive patients per day was 467.

Deaths, which typically lag hospitalizations by several weeks, remained relatively stable at 12 deaths reported each day this past week.

“I send my deepest sympathies and wishes of peace and comfort to the many families who have lost a loved one from COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “After the high death rates associated with COVID in the past three years, all county residents should take advantage of the resources available in the coming months to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, including therapeutics. It’s important to note that these treatments are not a replacement for vaccination and getting boosted. The best way to avoid severe symptoms, and the potential of long COVID, is to do everything you can to avoid infection in the first place. However, breakthrough infections happen, and these medications effectively reduce severe outcomes associated with COVID-19. I hope that as we get closer to the holidays and the colder weather, each of us can be sure we continue to do our part to protect those most vulnerable by staying home if sick, getting tested when exposed, ill or gathering indoors with others at elevated risk, and taking advantage of the new boosters that protect against Omicron.”

Today, Public Health reported 14 additional deaths and 1,017 new positive cases. Of the 14 new deaths reported today, one person was between the ages of 12-17, three people were between the ages of 50-64, five people were between the ages of 65-79, and four people were aged 80 years or older.  For information about the one death reported by the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Of the 14 newly reported deaths, 12 had underlying health conditions. To date, the total number of deaths in L.A. County is 33,889.

Public Health has reported a total of 3,476,928 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County. Today’s positivity rate is 3.6%.

There are 389 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized. Testing results are available for more than 12,617,347 individuals, with 24% of people testing positive.

A wide range of data and dashboards on COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are available on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov including:

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

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Total Cases

Laboratory Confirmed Cases

3,476,928

— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

3,288,326

— Long Beach

152,219

— Pasadena

36,383

Deaths

33,889

— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)

32,119

— Long Beach

1,336

— Pasadena

434

Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

– 0 to 4

103,903

– 5 to 11

275,181

– 12 to 17

269,314

– 18 to 29

717,564

– 30 to 49

1,057,884

– 50 to 64

558,403

– 65 to 79

228,513

–  over 80

75,184

–  Under Investigation

2,380

Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Female

1,688,556

–  Male

1,512,152

–  Other

1,559

–  Under Investigation

86,059

Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

6,221

–  Asian

235,989

–  Black

169,114

–  Hispanic/Latino

1,424,224

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

16,710

–  White

448,074

–  Other

373,099

–  Under Investigation

614,895

Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  Hospitalized (Ever)

157,427

Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)

–  American Indian/Alaska Native

74

–  Asian

4,084

–  Black

3,007

–  Hispanic/Latino

16,132

–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

112

–  White

8,267

–  Other

363

–  Under Investigation

80