Cyberattacks increase hospital mortality rates

8 July 2024 2 minutes Author: Newsman

Ransomware attacks lead to increased mortality among hospital patients. Studies show that the death rate increases by about 20%, especially among patients who were already hospitalized at the time of the attack.

The paper, published by researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School, analyzes the effects of ransomware attacks on hospitals in the US, including hospitalizations before, during and after the attacks, as well as patient deaths. Patients who were already hospitalized at the time of the attack suffered the most, as hospital staff had to adjust procedures due to the unavailability of IT systems. Mortality rates were even higher among hospital patients who suffered the most serious attacks (a 36-55% increase in mortality) and among colored patients (a 62-73% increase).

Attacks on hospitals are becoming more frequent due to the complexity of electronic systems critical to healthcare and the fact that users of these systems are often distracted, leaving them vulnerable to hacker attacks. Attackers choose the healthcare industry because of its vulnerabilities and the importance of electronic medical records, imaging equipment, scheduling and communication software, telemedicine platforms, and more.

Ransomware attacks may have caused the deaths of 42 to 67 Medicare patients between 2016 and 2021, the researchers said. The numbers may be higher if data from patients with other types of health insurance are analyzed. The consequences of cyberattacks are similar to other incidents such as natural disasters and pandemics, affecting hospital productivity and response times, compromising patient care.

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