Mortality inequalities during the pandemic

Bulletin 112 | Adele Groyer

All-cause mortality ordinarily has a steep gradient by deprivation. While living in a more deprived area is associated with higher risk of COVID-19 death, the pre-existing all-cause mortality gradient by deprivation has remained broadly stable during the pandemic. However, patterns of mortality among ethnic minorities and in densely populated areas have changed.

In this Bulletin we look at how population density is particularly revealing in this context. The first and second wave peaks had new and disproportionate effects on certain groups (ethnic minorities, London residents, people living in large households) which correlate with population density. Population density is not a risk factor normally considered when looking at mortality.