Inequalities and changes in mortality from leading causes in pre-pandemic and during COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted global health systems, contributing to significant shifts in mortality patterns. Beyond the direct impact of the virus, the pandemic has exacerbated existing health inequalities and introduced new inequalities in mortality from leading causes of death in Lithuania. The aim of this study was to investigate inequalities and trends in mortality from leading causes of death based on residential location, comparing the period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic with the period during the pandemic in Lithuania. Methods This study analyzed mortality data from 2017 to 2023 (pre-pandemic period 2017–2019, pandemic period 2020–2023) by gender, age group (