Dementia deaths 52pc above average during pandemic

MORE than 5,000 extra dementia and Alzheimer’s patients have died since March, new figures suggest, as charities warned that being separated from loved ones, and disrupted routines may be partly to blame.

There were 5,404 extra deaths of dementia sufferers in England and Wales from March 7 to May 1, compared with the five-year average for the same time period, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) data show. That is a rise of 52 per cent over the average.

Dementia patients now account for 40 per cent of the total number of noncovid-19 excess deaths. The vast majority occurred in care homes.

Samantha Benham-hermetz, director of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, warned that lower staffing levels, and being kept apart from friends and family could be responsible for the high numbers.

“We know that social isolation, losing routine and companionship from loved ones can be very difficult for people with dementia,” she said. It is the first detailed ONS analysis into deaths during the pandemic where Covid-19 was not mentioned on the death certificate. It found that 28 per cent of excess deaths registered between March 7 and May 1 in England and Wales did not involve the coronavirus – a total of 12,900 deaths out of 46,380.

Deaths related to asthma and diabetes are also occurring at a “significantly higher rate compared to the five-year average”. Deaths from ischaemic heart disease and other forms of circulatory disease, stroke, meningitis and appendicitis have all risen, suggesting people “are not receiving care fast enough”.

The ONS said it was unclear whether stress-related causes linked to social distancing and isolation were a factor in the overall excess non Covid-19 deaths.