Cancers, cardioneurovascular diseases and Covid-19. These are, in order, the three main causes of death in France, according to a study on the main causes of death carried out by Public Health France, Inserm and the statistics department of the Ministry of Health (Drees) published this Tuesday, December 19 . .
Each year, these researchers take stock of the main causes of mortality depending on the year studied: this is the year 2021, marked, like the previous one, by numerous deaths from Covid despite the first positive effects of vaccination.
Therefore, in 2021, 660,168 deaths of people domiciled and deceased in France were recorded. In detail, cancers are responsible for a quarter of deaths, cardioneurovascular diseases for a fifth and Covid-19 caused one in ten deaths.
Regarding cancers: tumors of the lung, bronchi and trachea are the most common and responsible for almost two cancer deaths in every ten. Colorectal tumors (10%) are the second deadliest tumors, followed by breast cancer, which accounts for almost 17% of tumor deaths in women.
Indirect effects of the Covid-19 epidemic
The study also points to an increase since 2020 in mortality due to diseases of the circulatory, endocrine, nutritional, metabolic and digestive system systems. Until then, deaths from cardioneurovascular diseases were declining.
“The deviations from the past trend are consistent with international results and contribute to documenting possible direct and indirect effects of the Covid-19 epidemic on mortality,” the authors write.
“We can think of difficulties in accessing health care, as well as greater social isolation that may have influenced differences in behavior and consumption,” explained Anne Fouillet, epidemiologist at Public Health France.
As for Covid-19, it still kills most older people, but less than in 2020. While almost half of deaths due to Covid-19 affect people aged 85 and over, this rate is increasing slightly among the youngest. Thus, the proportion of people between 65 and 74 years old increases from 11.9% to 15.8% and among those under 65 years old from 6.2% to 8.4%.
Mortality from Covid-19 is also higher in overseas departments and regions. But in almost nine out of ten Covid-19 deaths, at least one comorbidity or complication is mentioned on the death certificate.
Excess male mortality
The Covid-19 epidemic has also accentuated the upward trend in the number of deaths that occur at home, regardless of the cause. Between 2017 and 2019, 21% of deaths occurred at home. This proportion increases to 23% in 2021. “The health crisis has influenced the organization of care and support at the end of life beyond the direct effects of the pandemic,” says Drees, who mentions the more frequent use of home hospitalization.
The study also highlights excess male mortality from all causes. Specifically, the mortality rate for men is 1.7 times higher than that for women. Excess mortality, particularly among those under 65 years of age: these premature deaths represent almost two deaths in ten, half among women.
Another lesson: about 6% of deaths are due to external causes, such as accidental falls or transport accidents. Suicides also account for almost a quarter of these deaths. The vast majority of these suicide deaths affect men. Almost the same number of people under 65 years of age.
Source: BFM TV
