Ahamad, M. G.; Tanin, F.; Talukder, B.; Ahmed, M. U. Officially Confirmed COVID-19 and Unreported COVID-19–Like Illness Death Counts: An Assessment of Reporting Discrepancy in Bangladesh. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2021, 104, 546–548. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-1205.
Ahamad, M. G.; Tanin, F.; Talukder, B.; Ahmed, M. U. Officially Confirmed COVID-19 and Unreported COVID-19–Like Illness Death Counts: An Assessment of Reporting Discrepancy in Bangladesh. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2021, 104, 546–548. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-1205.
Ahamad, M. G.; Tanin, F.; Talukder, B.; Ahmed, M. U. Officially Confirmed COVID-19 and Unreported COVID-19–Like Illness Death Counts: An Assessment of Reporting Discrepancy in Bangladesh. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2021, 104, 546–548. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-1205.
Ahamad, M. G.; Tanin, F.; Talukder, B.; Ahmed, M. U. Officially Confirmed COVID-19 and Unreported COVID-19–Like Illness Death Counts: An Assessment of Reporting Discrepancy in Bangladesh. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2021, 104, 546–548. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-1205.
Abstract
Objective: We aim to assess the reporting discrepancy and the difference between confirmed and unreported COVID-19-like death counts.Study Design: The study is based on time-series data.Methods: We used publicly available data to explore the differences between confirmed death counts and deaths with Codiv-19 symptoms between March 8, 2020, and July 11, 2020, in Bangladesh.Results: During the week ending May 9, 2020, the unreported COVID-19-like death count was higher than the confirmed COVID-19 death count; however, it was lower in the following weeks. On average, unreported COVID-19-like death counts were similar to the confirmed COVID-19 death counts during the same period. However, the reporting authority neither considers these deaths nor adjusts for potential seasonal influenza or other related deaths, which might produce incomplete COVID-19 data and respective mortality rates. Conclusions: Documenting unreported deaths with COVID-19 symptoms needs to be included in provisional death counts because it is essential to estimate a robust COVID-19 mortality rate and to offer data-driven pandemic response strategies. An urgent initiative is needed to prepare an acceptable guideline for COVID-19 death reporting.
Medicine and Pharmacology, Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Commenter:
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.