More deaths were recorded in Australia from pneumonia, diabetes and dementia in the last week in March than past years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported, raising the possibility of a coronavirus spike.
Bureau director of health and vital statistics James Eynstone-Hinkins said more than 33,000 deaths had been certified by doctors in Australia in the three months from the start of the year to the end of March.
The highest number was in the final week of March, which coincides with the coronavirus peak but Mr Eynstone-Hinkins said more information was needed.
"Deaths in that last week of week of March from pneumonia, diabetes and dementia were higher than expected numbers based on historic averages," he said.
"It will be important to confirm whether those increases are sustained before drawing any conclusion from this data."
Of deaths attributed to COVID-19, the data confirms that deaths people largely occur among people with underlying health conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, cancer, and dementia.
COVID-19 is listed as the cause of death in 89 registered deaths by the end of May. Most had acute respiratory symptoms, including pneumonia, the bureau said.
More than two-thirds (69 per cent) had pre-existing conditions. The most common was high-blood pressure, followed by dementia, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The heavy impact of pre-existing conditions has already been reported in health department data.
More to come
