Excess Mortality by Marital Status During the Pandemic

Excess Mortality by Marital Status During the Pandemic

Title (one hundred twenty-two characters / one hundred twenty-five max): Older adults' marital status and excess all-cause mortality during COVID-nineteen: investigating heterogeneity by place of death

Running Title (forty-two characters / forty-five max): Older adults' marital status and mortality Alternative (thirty-nine characters / forty-five max): Mortality, marriage, and place of death

Marriage was associated with lower excess all-cause mortality among older adults during the COVID-nineteen pandemic compared to widowed, divorced, and never-married counterparts.

In analyses stratified by place of death, married individuals had the most advantage in nursing homes.

Relative differences in mortality risk were less pronounced for those who died in hospitals or at home.

This study highlights the protective effects of marriage against excess all-cause mortality among older adults during the COVID-nineteen pandemic, particularly in nursing homes, where spousal advocacy may mitigate institutional care limitations. Identifying disparities in mortality risk among unmarried individuals, this work underscores critical gaps in social and healthcare safety nets, with implications for equitable care strategies in aging populations.

ABSTRACT

Background

Despite extensive research on social factors affecting health outcomes during the COVID-nineteen pandemic, the role of marital status in influencing older adults' mortality remains underexplored.

This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the relationship between marital status and excess mortality among older Californians during the pandemic, assessing potential heterogeneity by place of death.