Excess deaths from all causes, involving and with dementia as the underlying cause: Scotland 2020-2022

Total annual deaths with dementia as the underlying cause reduced to below average in 2021, reflecting mortality displacement

Deaths involving dementia and deaths with dementia as the underlying cause, compared with deaths from all causes, total across all settings

In 2020, deaths from all causes exceeded the 2015-2019 average by 6,992 deaths (+12%). There were 2,177 excess deaths involving dementia (+21%), including 280 excess deaths with dementia as the underlying cause (+5%).

In 2021, deaths from all causes exceeded the 2015-2019 average by 5,755 deaths (+10%). Deaths registered involving dementia were closer to average (311 excess deaths; +3%), and deaths with dementia as the underlying cause were below average by 116 deaths (-2%).

Deaths involving dementia and COVID-19, total across all settings

In 2020, the number of deaths involving dementia and COVID-19 was similar to the number of excess deaths involving dementia. However in 2021, there were over three times more deaths involving dementia and COVID-19 than there were excess deaths involving dementia. This may be a result of mortality displacement, offset by continued deaths involving COVID-19 or with COVID-19 as the underlying cause. Mortality displacement occurs when vulnerable individuals who are near the end of their life die earlier than expected. This can be due to an infection or external factors such as heat waves. If a large number of deaths are hastened, a period of mortality deficit might be expected.

Due to data limitations, excess deaths involving dementia are not disaggregated into excess deaths without COVID-19involvement, therefore no conclusions can be drawn on the impact of indirect harms from the pandemic, such as any changes to care packages or restrictions on visiting to care homes.