Study estimates more than 155,000 uncounted COVID-19 deaths occurred early during pandemic

A study published March 18 by Science Advances estimated that more than 155,000 U.S. COVID-19 deaths were uncounted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers used artificial intelligence to examine death certificates from March 2020 to December 2021 to make the prediction. The study said factors that could have contributed to a death being unrecognized include details regarding the decedent and their family; the roles and expertise of death investigators; community factors such as COVID-19 testing rates and preexisting health conditions complicating diagnosis; and systemic factors such as funding for death investigation offices, types of offices in a county and state, and related policies.