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Editorial
. 2020 Dec 15;173(12):1022-1023.
doi: 10.7326/M20-6348. Epub 2020 Sep 11.

Measuring Pandemic Impact: Vital Signs From Vital Statistics

Julie Louise Gerberding  1
Affiliations
Editorial

Measuring Pandemic Impact: Vital Signs From Vital Statistics

Julie Louise Gerberding. Ann Intern Med. .

Abstract

Kiang and colleagues' study emphasizes that deaths directly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection tell only part of the story. Many deaths are likely to be attributable to indirect consequences of the pandemic, including those associated with disruptions in health care systems and the economic and social hardships endured by many people. The editorial discusses the importance of national vital statistics to health and emergency preparedness systems in the United States.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M20-6348.

References

    1. Kiang MV, Irizarry RA, Buckee CO, et al: Every body counts: measuring mortality from the COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Intern Med. 2020. [Epub ahead of print]. doi:10.7326/M20-3100 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Weinberger DM, Chen J, Cohen T, et al. Estimation of excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, March to May 2020. JAMA Intern Med. 2020. [PMID: 32609310] doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.3391 - PMC - PubMed
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    1. National Center for Health Statistics. U.S. standard certificate of death, 2003 revision. 2003. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/death11-03final-acc.pdf on 9 September 2020.

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