Almost half of the life years lost to COVID-19 have been from working-age people. (Photo: Shutterstock)
As of Oct. 19, the number of deaths due to COVID-19 topped 220,000, according to the New York Times. The Health Care Cost Institute estimates 1.9 million years of life have been collectively lost to those untimely deaths.
COVID deaths have had a disproportionate impact on older people, and Americans 65 and older account for about 80% of those deaths. In April, years of life lost for that population tracked with the share of total deaths due to COVID-19. However, in June, that share fell to 36% of years lost, HCCI found, before climbing to 51% in August.
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