Background:

In this study, we aimed to present mortality indicators from a database of death causes by age and sex in Navarre (Spain) for 2020: life expectancy at birth, excess mortality, and mortality from COVID-19 and other causes.

Methods:

A Poisson regression model, which accounts for temporal trends in the previous years, was used to estimate the expected deaths by sex and age for 2020.

Results:

Life expectancy at birth in Navarre for 2020 was 80.6 and 85.9 years for men and women, respectively, 1.4 and 1.0 years lower than in 2019. Deaths in people aged <55 years were similar to those expected. The highest adjusted excess mortality rate occurred among men and women aged ≥85 years, were 61% of excess deaths was concentrated. The estimated number of excess deaths did not exceed the number of reported deaths from COVID-19. In individuals aged >75 years, around 9 out of 10 people died from COVID-19. Coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a remarkable decrease in mortality in people affected by diseases where dementia is included.

Conclusions:

The first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced life expectancy at birth to figures observed ten years ago. The increase in deaths in Navarre for 2020 is largely attributable to COVID-19.