INTRODUCTION : Human history suggested that different diseases had influenced the mortality patterns of population. Analysing the mortality data could bring out valuable insights regarding the influence of COVID 19 in the population. Hence we conducted this study to determine whether there was any difference in all-cause mortality in Pre COVID and Post COVID Time; whether there is any difference in mortality among various age groups and for important causes of death.
METHODS : We did a secondary data analysis by obtaining data from Civil Registration System software of Kanyakumari district pertaining to April to September of 2019 (Pre COVID) and 2022 (Post COVID). We calculated mortality rates with confidence intervals for total population, both genders, different age groups and causes.
RESULTS : In comparison to Pre COVID period, mortality rate during Post COVID period had increased (statistically significant) in the following groups: total population, females, above 60 years; cause specific mortality rates had increased for heart disease & heart attacks and senility and decreased for bronchial asthma and pneumonia; gender wise analysis for heart disease revealed that increase among females were statistically significant; for senility statistically significant increase was noted in both genders
CONCLUSION : Mortality experience of Kanyakumari District had a significant change in post COVID period; old age population and females had been dying more; heart disease deaths had been noted higher in post COVID period especially for females; death due to bronchial asthma and pneumonia had decreased. We recommended further studies before attributing the difference in mortality experience to COVID 19 exposure of population such as similar study in different population & different data periods of same population; studies to identify factors associated with increase in mortality among female in Post COVIID period; to identify factors associated with increased cardiovascular mortality among females; studies to identify factors contributing to decrease in mortality due to pneumonia and bronchial asthma after COVID 19 Pandemic.