The studies, using different techniques, took account of differences in life expectancy associated with common ailments, such as heart disease, diabetes and dementia, to reflect varying levels of health of those who died.

A paper by Scotland-based researchers published online by the Wellcome Trust, a London-based foundation that funds scientific research, found the average number of years of life lost to Covid-19 for healthy adults is 14 for men and 12 for women.

Using a mix of data from Italy and the U.K. on the kind of long-term conditions seen in Covid-19 victims and the general population, the researchers also mapped out the years of life lost for those suffering from common chronic illnesses and cancer, including those with multiple conditions. They found Covid-19 still cost such victims more than a decade of life, on average, with the sickest patients losing between one and six years depending on their age. Repeating the analysis using U.S. life-expectancy data yielded similar results.