The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with over 1 million excess deaths in the United States. Tragically, physicians were among the ranks of those with high mortality associated with the disease.
Excess deaths are defined as the difference between the number of observed and expected deaths over a specified period. Between March 2020 through December 2021, there were 622 more physician deaths in the United States than expected, according to a new analysis of data from the American Medical Association. But after April 2021, when COVID-19 vaccines became available, there were no excess deaths recorded in this provider group, the authors reported.
Mitigation measures worked
Despite the heavy toll of COVID-19 prior to the introduction of the vaccines, there were also signs that mitigation measures had protected doctors somewhat, despite their high risk of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2. Physicians had “substantially lower” excess mortality than the general population, the researchers reported. And there were fewer unexpected deaths among active physicians than nonactive physicians, even though these professionals were likely more exposed to infected patients.
Taken together, the findings suggest that “personal protective equipment use, vaccine requirements, infection prevention protocols, adequate staffing and other workplace-based protective measures were effective in preventing excess mortality,” wrote Mathew V. Kiang, ScD, MPH, of Stanford University, CA, and colleagues.
The researchers recommend that workplace policies prioritize risk management to protect physicians. Not only to prevent infection and illness, but to reduce workplace stress and burnout, they said.
Taking steps to lower these risks not only will support these care providers, but will help protect the people they serve by ensuring a healthy and active workforce, the authors concluded.
Full findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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