Publication date: Jun 22, 2026
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted extraordinary response measures in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia), but mortality outcomes varied. This retrospective population-based ecological study assessed age-standardized COVID-19 mortality rates (ASMRs per 100,000) from January 2020 to December 2021. Monthly COVID-19 deaths and population data by age and sex were obtained from official statistical and health sources. ASMRs were calculated using direct age standardization; monthly trends were examined by country, sex, and age group using joinpoint regression and interpreted in relation to governmental mitigation measures and circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Rates were higher in men than in women: in Kazakhstan, 24. 8 vs. 12. 8 in 2020 and 87. 3 vs. 67. 6 in 2021, in Kyrgyzstan, 46. 6 vs. 25. 2 and 40. 8 vs. 29. 7, respectively; and in Mongolia, 91. 5 vs. 73. 1 in 2021, with no deaths reported in 2020. In 2021, the gap between men and women narrowed as female ASMR increased fivefold. COVID-19 mortality was observed among infants in Kazakhstan and children ages 0-4 in Mongolia (2021). Rates rose sharply from age 60, especially among men and showed distinct country-specific timing: an early peak in Kyrgyzstan, delayed acceleration in Kazakhstan, and a late rise in Mongolia. These results underscore the need for timely, coordinated, age- and sex-sensitive response measures and targeted protection of vulnerable groups.
Open Access PDF
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| December | Age |
| Kyrgyzstan | Age-standardized analysis |
| Pandemic | Central Asia |
| COVID-19 | |
| Gender | |
| Mortality |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| pathway | REACTOME | Reproduction |
| disease | MESH | included |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Coenzyme M |
| disease | MESH | death |
| disease | MESH | ICD |
| disease | MESH | strains |