Prevalence, incidence and years of life adjusted for disability due to depressive disorders in Mexico: Results of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Abstract

• Although depressive disorders are one of the primary causes of non-fatal health losses worldwide, there are few research examining the burden of mental illnesses in middle- and low-income nations, particularly in Latin America. • Mexico lacks a systematic register of mental diseases, particularly depressive illnesses, and a comprehensive mental health care program. • The prevalence, incidence, and years of life adjusted for disability as a result of depressive disorders have increased significantly across the country, primarily among women. • Over the thirty-year period studied (1990–2019), subnational disparities in the burden of disability attributable to depressive disorders have grown significantly, with the poorest states seeing the greatest rates. Depressive disorders (DD) represent one of the most common contributors to non-fatal health loss in the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to analyze the burden of DD in Mexico between 1990 and 2019 by sex, states, age groups and socio-demographic index (SDI). Secondary analysis based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. Data on prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLD) due to DD were obtained. A joinpoint regression analysis was performed to describe the changes in the trend of YLD rates due to DD. Nationwide prevalence of DD increased 121.5%, from 2.1 million persons (UI 1,8-2,3) in 1990, to 4.6 million persons (UI 4,1-5,0) in 2019. The standardized rate of YLD due to DD differs widely by age group and sex, with notably higher values in young people and women. Between 1990 and 2019, Campeche, Quinta Roo, Tabasco, and Yucatán have the highest rates, while the Estado de México, Sinaloa, and Ciudad de México have the lowest. As part of the fundamental and universal access to health, attention to mental health, including DD, must be handled more effectively by the Mexican health system. Its care should be addressed on a regular basis at all levels of care.