Fact check: How many people died from covid with no other diseases or comorbities

1. Summary of the results

The question of how many people died from COVID-19 with no other diseases or comorbidities is complex and not directly answered by most of the analyses provided ^{[1] [2] [3]}. However, some studies offer insights into the mortality rates and proportions of COVID-19 deaths in individuals without underlying health conditions. For instance, a study found that the proportion of COVID-19 deaths in individuals under 65 years old without underlying conditions ranged from 0.7 to 3.6% of all COVID-19 deaths in high-income countries ^[2]. Another study reported that among patients without any underlying health condition, there were 10,694 deaths, representing a 1.89% mortality rate for that group ^[1]. The CDC’s systematic review summary notes that 29.6% of COVID-19 deaths occurred in patients without underlying medical conditions ^[4], while the CDC’s risk-factor page states that individuals with underlying conditions account for about 83.29% of COVID-19 deaths, meaning approximately 16.71% of deaths occurred in people without comorbidities ^[5]. These findings suggest that the risk of death from COVID-19 in individuals with no underlying conditions is relatively low, but varies by location, age, and other factors.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is the absolute number of COVID-19 deaths in individuals without comorbidities, which is not consistently reported across the analyses ^{[1] [3] [4] [5]}. Additionally, the definition of "underlying health conditions" or "comorbidities" may vary between studies, potentially affecting the comparability of results ^[1]. Alternative viewpoints, such as the impact of socioeconomic factors or access to healthcare on COVID-19 mortality in individuals without comorbidities, are not explored in the provided analyses ^{[2] [1]}. Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between COVID-19 mortality and underlying health conditions. The analyses also highlight the importance of considering age and location in assessing the risk of COVID-19 death in individuals without comorbidities ^{[2] [1]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading in implying that there is a straightforward answer to the question of how many people died from COVID-19 with no other diseases or comorbidities ^{[1] [3]}. The lack of direct evidence and inconsistent reporting of COVID-19 deaths in individuals without comorbidities across the analyses may contribute to confusion or misinformation ^{[4] [5]}. Additionally, the emphasis on mortality rates in individuals without comorbidities may overshadow the importance of underlying health conditions in COVID-19 mortality, potentially benefiting narratives that downplay the role of comorbidities in COVID-19 deaths ^{[2] [1]}. A nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between COVID-19 mortality, underlying health conditions, and other factors is essential to accurately interpreting the available data ^{[1] [5]}.