More men than normal are dying at home from heart disease in England and Wales, and more women are dying from dementia and Alzheimer’s, figures show.
More than 26,000 extra deaths occurred in private homes this year, an analysis by the Office for National Statistics found.
In contrast, deaths in hospitals from these causes have been lower than usual. The Covid epidemic may have led to fewer people being treated in hospital. Or it may be that people in older age groups, who make up the majority of these deaths, are choosing to stay at home – but the underlying reasons for the figures are still not clear.
Alzheimer’s disease charities called for action over the “heartbreaking” side-effects of lockdown and isolation.
Non-Covid causes
Between March and September 2020, there were 24,387 more deaths in England than expected in private homes, and 1,644 in Wales. The large majority did not involve Covid-19.
Of these, an extra 1,705 men died from heart disease at home in England – 25% more than normal.
In Wales there was a similar rise in men dying from heart disease at home, of 22.7%.
Read More: Deaths at home: More than 26,000 extra this year, ONS finds
