Covid resulted in increased elderly deaths, study finds

A study conducted by the Malaysian health ministry has found that the Covid-19 pandemic inadvertently increased mortality rates among elderly individuals aged 65 and above. Between 2020 and 2023, there were 22,319 deaths in this age group, compared to 20,989 deaths between 2016 and 2019. The pandemic and the subsequent movement control order, implemented to control the virus's spread, may have led to missed appointments or delayed procedures for patients with chronic illnesses, particularly those with non-communicable diseases.

The study, titled "Mortality trends from 2010-2023 and excess mortalities in Perak during the Covid-19 pandemic", suggests that disruptions in healthcare services and resource shortages due to the pandemic could have contributed to the higher death toll. In 2021, a private hospital's head stated that the pandemic exposed the acute shortage of healthcare resources in Malaysia.

While the study focused on Perak, a state with a high proportion of elderly residents, similar trends are likely to be observed in other districts with large elderly populations. Interestingly, the study also revealed that the movement control order resulted in fewer deaths among individuals aged 19 and below, likely due to fewer cars on the road and consequently fewer accidents.