COVID deaths in South Africa: 99 days since South Africa's first death

Background. Understanding the pattern of deaths from COVID-19 in South Africa (SA) is critical to identifying individuals at high risk of dying from the disease. The Minister of Health set up a daily reporting mechanism to obtain timeous details of COVID-19 deaths from the provinces to track mortality patterns.Objectives. To provide an epidemiological analysis of the first COVID-19 deaths in SA.Methods. Provincial deaths data from 28 March to 3 July 2020 were cleaned, information on comorbidities was standardised, and data were aggregated into a single data set. Analysis was performed by age, sex, province, date of death and comorbidities.Results. SA reported 3 088 deaths from COVID-19, i.e. an age-standardised death rate of 64.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 62.3 - 66.8) deaths per million population. Most deaths occurred in Western Cape (65.5%) followed by Eastern Cape (16.8%) and Gauteng (11.3%). The median age of death was 61 years (interquartile range 52 - 71). Males had a 1.5 times higher death rate compared with females. Individuals with two or more comorbidities accounted for 58.6% (95% CI 56.6 - 60.5) of deaths. Hypertension and diabetes were the most common comorbidities reported, and HIV and tuberculosis were more common in individuals aged <50 years.Conclusions. Data collection for COVID-19 deaths in provinces must be standardised. Even though the data had limitations, these findings can be used by the SA government to manage the pandemic and identify individuals who are at high risk of dying from COVID-19

Emerging Trends in Non-Communicable Disease Mortality in South Africa; 1997 - 2010

OBJECTIVES:National trends in age-standardised death rates (ASDRs) for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South Africa (SA) were identified between 1997 and 2010.METHODS:As part of the second National Burden of Disease Study; vital registration data were used after validity checks; proportional redistribution of missing age; sex and population group; demographic adjustments for registration incompleteness; and identification of misclassified AIDS deaths. Garbage codes were redistributed proportionally to specified codes by age; sex and population group. ASDRs were calculated using mid-year population estimates and the World Health Organization world standard.RESULTS:Of 594 071 deaths in 2010; 38.9% were due to NCDs (42.6% females). ASDRs were 287/100 000 for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); 114/100 000 for cancers (malignant neoplasms); 58/100 000 for chronic respiratory conditions and 52/100 000 for diabetes mellitus. An overall annual decrease of 0.4% was observed resulting from declines in stroke; ischaemic heart disease; oesophageal and lung cancer; asthma and chronic respiratory disease; while increases were observed for diabetes; renal disease; endocrine and nutritional disorders; and breast and prostate cancers. Stroke was the leading NCD cause of death; accounting for 17.5% of total NCD deaths. Compared with those for whites; NCD mortality rates for other population groups were higher at 1.3 for black Africans; 1.4 for Indians and 1.4 for coloureds; but varied by condition.CONCLUSIONS:NCDs contribute to premature mortality in SA; threatening socioeconomic development. While NCD mortality rates have decreased slightly; it is necessary to strengthen prevention and healthcare provision and monitor emerging trends in cause-specific mortality to inform these strategies if the target of 2% annual decline is to be achieved