Deaths from dementia and diabetes rise by 25% in lockdown

Deaths from dementia and diabetes each rose by around a quarter at the height of lockdown.

Over April to June, total deaths in Scotland were about a third higher than the five-year average, with 83% of those fatalities (a total of 3379) linked to coronavirus.

The latest quarterly report from National Records of Scotland (NRS) found 18201 people died during the three-month period – more than 4500 more than the average over the last five years.

With NHS services re-diverted to tackle Covid-19 and treatment for other conditions significantly curtailed, deaths from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease increased by 24.5%.

People dying with diabetes soared by 26.2%, while cancer deaths rose by 1.5%, and deaths of people with urinary diseases went up by 22.5%.

However, given the strict restrictions on movement that were put in place during lockdown, deaths from transport accidents fell by nearly

Deaths of people with respiratory diseases and coronary heart disease also reduced, by 20.6%and 1.8% respectively.

The lockdown measures also resulted in an unprecedented drop in weddings.

Only 117 marriages took place, compared with an average of 7938 during April to June for the previous five years.

Julie Ramsay, vital events statistician at NRS, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the number of deaths we normally see at this time of year, and the overall death rate is a third higher than the five year average.

“Covid-19 has also impacted the number of marriages, from April to June only 117 marriages took place, a stark contrast to the five year average of 7938.

“Similarly only 1,45 births were recorded, as this period coincided with a postponement of the registration of births.

“We are likely to see a large increase in the number of birth registrations in the next quarter.”