We have published a descriptive analysis of the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as several factors that are likely to have influenced the course of the pandemic, in European countries.
We examined trends in five epidemiological indicators of the burden of COVID-19, from 1 January 2020 up to 30 November 2021:
- confirmed cases of COVID-19
- hospitalisations (new admissions and total patients) with COVID-19
- intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and total patients in ICU with COVID-19
- reported COVID-19 deaths
- excess mortality (that is, mortality above what would normally be expected).
The analysis was carried out on request of the Department of Health, and reviewed data for the 27 EU member states (EU-27) and Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the UK.
We found that, between March 2020 and November 2021, Ireland experienced five peaks in the incidence of COVID-19. The cumulative case rates for COVID-19 in Ireland were in line with, or below, the average of the EU-27, during the period examined.
Furthermore, we noted two peaks in hospital and ICU admissions in Ireland occurred in April 2020 and January 2021. Other European countries also experienced significant increases in hospitalisations around these times, with a number of countries experiencing peaks that were higher and of a longer duration than in Ireland.
Dr Conor Teljeur, our Chief Scientist said: “The purpose of this report was to provide a high-level summary of key epidemiological indicators relating to the burden of COVID-19 across European countries, over the course of the pandemic, and prior to the emergence of the Omicron variant in Ireland.
“As part of this analysis, we also reviewed several factors that are likely to have influenced the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, Ireland has a relatively young population and a lower population density compared to most other European countries, but a much higher proportion of people living in households of three or more persons. We also considered how COVID-19 testing approaches and public health restrictions changed over time, and differences in how and when vaccination rollout occurred. These factors, among others, strongly limit the conclusions that can be drawn from comparing the burden of the pandemic across countries.”
Read the full analysis to learn more at www.hiqa.ie.