IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON SELECTED CAUSES OF DEATH IN EU REGIONS

Purpose: The main objective of the study is to learn about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trends of selected causes of death in EU regions. The second objective is to learn about the variation in mortality from heart disease and cancer and from accidents in EU regions. Design/methodology/approach: To examine the impact of the pandemic on mortality, the average rates of change in mortality before and after the pandemic in all EU regions were counted. The linear ordering method was also used to rank EU regions in terms of mortality from ischemic heart disease and cancer and accidents, thus examining the variation in terms of the aforementioned indicators across EU regions. Findings: The analyses show that 90% of the regions experienced an increase in the total death rate after the pandemic, so it can be argued that indeed the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on mortality in EU regions. The study also shows that there is a high similarity in deaths from heart disease and cancer in regions within EU countries. In the case of deaths due to accidents, there is much greater variation within countries. Research limitations/implications: Further research should focus on analyzing similarities in the development of EU regions. The research can be expanded to analyze coefficients related to the economic development of the regions. Social implications: By learning which regions are best able to cope with the effects of a pandemic, regions that are coping less well can draw some patterns to better handle similar situations in the future. In the era of globalization, similar cases may occur more and more frequently, so it is important to have appropriate strategies prepared and to implement them immediately. Originality/value: While countries are often compared with each other, regions are much less often. The article shows the changes that are taking place precisely in the regions of EU countries. Of course, many decisions are made at the national level, however, also at the level of the regions many important decisions can be made, thanks to which some regions develop better and others less well.