Recent increase in mortality from Unipolar Depressive Disorder in Chile: an emerging phenomenon in public health

Abstract

Introduction: Unipolar Depressive Disorder (UDD) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with increasing impacts on public health. In Chile, although its prevalence has been studied, mortality directly attributable to UDD remains poorly explored. Objective: To describe the trend, distribution by sex and age groups of mortality due to UDD in Chile between 2000 and 2022. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, and retrospective study based on the mortality registries of the World Health Organization. All deaths of residents in Chile during the period were analyzed, without exclusions due to age, sex, or comorbidity, identifying temporal trends and demographic differences. Results: A total of 196 deaths from IDD were recorded between 2000 and 2022. After an initial stable phase between 2000 and 2012, mortality increased steadily from 2017, reaching its peak in 2022 (36 deaths; 0.03% of national mortality). Women accounted for the majority of deaths throughout the period, doubling the number of men in 2022. The ≥65 age group was the most affected in both sexes, accounting for 57% of deaths. Discussion: The recent increase in IDD mortality could reflect both an improvement in diagnostic registration and a real increase associated with population aging, social vulnerability, and the post-pandemic impact. Conclusion: The marked excess female mortality and the concentration in older adults highlight the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and prevention and mental health care strategies in these priority groups.