Choice of Outcome in COVID-19 Studies and Implications for Policy: Mortality and Fatality. Issue 2 (6th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Westreich, Daniel; Edwards, Jessie K; Tennant, Peter W G; Murray, Eleanor J; van Smeden, Maarten
• Is Part Of: American journal of epidemiology. Volume 191:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 282
• Page End: 286
• Publication Date: 2021-10-06
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- fatality -- methods -- Missing Link Fallacy -- mortality -- policy; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab244
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9262

Abstract

Abstract: In this brief communication, we discuss the confusion of mortality with fatality in the interpretation of evidence in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and how this confusion affects the translation of science into policy and practice. We discuss how this confusion has influenced COVID-19 policy in France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom and discuss the implications for decision-making about COVID-19 vaccine distribution. We also discuss how this confusion is an example of a more general statistical fallacy we term the "Missing Link Fallacy."