Rise in the number of deaths in Germany
The number of deaths in Germany rose by 4.2 percent last year. According to the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden on Wednesday, around 1.07 million people died in 2022, compared to around 1.02 million a year earlier. Cardiovascular diseases were once again the most common cause of death, accounting for a third (33.6 percent) of all deaths. Cancer was the cause of a good fifth (21.7 percent).
And what about corona? According to the figures, Covid 19 was identified as the main cause of death in 52,357 deaths (4.9 percent). A year earlier - in 2021 - this was still the third most common cause of death with a share of 6.9 percent (71,331 deaths). The figures do not include cases in which Covid-19 was documented on the death certificate as a concomitant disease. These figures will be published at a later date, it was reported.
In contrast, the number of deaths due to diseases of the respiratory system rose at an above-average rate, by 18 percent to 67,633. According to the statisticians, the increase in flu deaths and people who died of pneumonia was the main reason for this. The Federal Office does not count Covid-19 as a respiratory disease in these statistics, as it is considered separately as a cause of the pandemic, a spokesperson said.
Dementia and suicides
The Federal Office recorded a further significant increase (plus 14.7 percent) in people who died due to mental illness or behavioral disorders. "A total of 68,777 people died from these illnesses, of which 25,941 were men and 42,836 women," it said. With 53,323 deaths, dementia accounted for more than three quarters of this disease group.
The number of deaths from non-natural causes also increased: according to the data, 47,912 people (4.5 percent) died from a so-called external cause, which corresponds to an increase of around 11 percent compared to the previous year. The highest increase was recorded for falls, with 20,311 people dying in this way (up 11.7 percent). The pandemic effect from the previous year did not apply to transportation accidents, which include road traffic accidents in particular. Here, the number of deaths increased by 8% to 3141 cases.
The number of suicides rose by 9.8% year-on-year to 10,119 deaths. However, as in previous years, the proportion of suicides among all causes of death remained constant at around one percent. At around 74 percent, men accounted for the largest proportion.
After the post-mortem examination, the doctor must complete a death certificate. This officially documents the personal details, time and place of death. This death certificate contains a confidential section in which the presumed cause of death is entered. A distinction is made between the main cause of death, concomitant or secondary diseases and the immediate cause of death.
The rise in death statistics in Germany also highlights the significant role of health-related issues, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, which accounted for over half of all deaths in 2022. According to the Health Sciences, understanding these diseases and their Statistical patterns can lead to the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
The figure of 10,119 suicides in Germany last year underscores the importance of Mental Health being a key area for further Scientific research and interventions, aiming to reduce such tragic losses and promote well-being among the population.
Source: www.dpa.com
