How many uncounted COVID-19 deaths did the AI study estimate?

The AI study estimated as many as 155,000 additional deaths from COVID-19 that were not officially counted in 2020 and 2021.

Which demographic groups were more likely to have uncounted COVID-19 deaths?

Undercounted COVID-19 deaths were more likely to affect Hispanic people and other people of color, particularly those who died outside of hospitals.

What factors contributed to the undercounting of COVID-19 deaths?

Factors include limited early-pandemic testing outside hospitals and an antiquated death investigation system, with some coroners noting family pressure not to list COVID-19 as a cause of death.

Home / Health / AI Uncovers Hidden COVID Toll: 16% Unreported

AI Uncovers Hidden COVID Toll: 16% Unreported

19 Mar

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Summary

AI estimates 155,000 uncounted COVID deaths in 2020-2021.
Undercounted deaths disproportionately affected minority groups.
Inaccurate death investigation systems contributed to low counts.

AI Uncovers Hidden COVID Toll: 16% Unreported

A recent study published in Science Advances indicates that the true COVID-19 death toll in the United States during 2020 and 2021 was considerably higher than officially reported. Researchers employed artificial intelligence to analyze death certificates, estimating that approximately 155,000 additional deaths, likely occurring outside hospitals, were not recognized as COVID-19 related. This suggests that about 16% of COVID-19 deaths went uncounted during those initial years of the pandemic.

The study highlighted significant disparities, finding that these uncounted deaths were more prevalent among Hispanic individuals and other people of color. These deaths were also more likely to have occurred in the early months of the pandemic and in specific southern and southwestern states. Experts attribute these undercounts to various factors, including limited access to testing outside of hospitals and inadequacies within the existing death investigation systems, some of which are managed by elected coroners lacking specialized medical training.