Post-Pandemic Data: Not Pretty

The state of our nation post-pandemic is not looking good. For awhile many of us have been tracking case numbers and vaccination rates. While these are important data points, combining multiple data points paints a more wholistic picture of the nation\’s health that is not very pretty.

Reports using data from late 2020 and through 2021 are starting to come out. With this data, we can begin to get a complete picture of where the health and well-being of the nation stands post-pandemic. It\’s tempting to rush back and assume things are status quo, but perhaps we should pause and consider the stark impact of the pandemic on the nation’s health. The unprecedented impact on the nation’s health is undeniable. The data now emerging paints a jarring picture.

For example:

-The number of deaths involving alcohol increased between 2019 and 2020 by 25.5%; the 35-44 age group saw an increase of 39.7%.[1]

-The number of opioid overdose deaths increased 38% in 2020, with a 55% increase in deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.[2]

-Life expectancy at birth for the total U.S. population declined by 1.5 years in 2020; the biggest decline since at least World War II.[3]

–25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide.[4]

–employment in healthcare is down by 524,000 since February 2020, with nursing and residential care facilities representing about four-fifths of the losses[5]

– academic test scores dropped significantly in both reading and math during the pandemic[6] 

Much if not all of these changes are pandemic driven. But there were secondary effects of the virus as well. Lack of access to medical facilities, schools closing, pandemic lockdowns created ripple effects felt by us all. The unprecedented stress caused by the social isolation resulting from the pandemic. Linked to this were constraints on people’s ability to work, seek support from loved ones and engage in their communities. The data paints the picture.

[1] JAMA March 2022: Alcohol-Related Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

[2] AMA February 2022. Issue brief: Nation’s drug-related overdose and death epidemic continues to worsen

[3] CDC July 2021. 

[4] WHO March 2022. 

[5] Bureau of Labor Statistics. October 2021. 

[6] PANDEMIC SCHOOLING MODE AND STUDENT TEST SCORES: EVIDENCE FROM US STATES. Halloran, James, Okun, Oster. Working Paper 29497. National Bureau of Economic Research