# Mental and behavioral disorder mortality in Poland, 2000–2023: a national age-standardized Joinpoint regression study

## TL;DR

Mental and behavioral disorder deaths in Poland have risen sharply since 2000, driven mainly by alcohol-related issues and dementia, with faster increases in women.

## Contribution

This study provides the first national age-standardized analysis of MBD mortality trends in Poland using Joinpoint regression from 2000–2023.

## Key findings

- Mental and behavioral disorder deaths in Poland increased from 1,541 in 2000 to 5,018 in 2023.
- Alcohol-related MBD deaths rose significantly after 2013, with a 26.4% annual increase in dementia-related deaths.
- Women experienced faster increases in standardized death rates compared to men.

## Abstract

Many studies on mental health show that mental and behavioral disorders (MBD) are becoming a growing global problem, including in Poland. The aim of the study is to assess mortality trends due to MBD in Poland in the period 2000–2023, by gender and by the most important causes in this group of deaths.

The study material was a database including 63,580 death certificates of all Polish inhabitants who died due to MBD in the period 2000–2023. The authors calculated standardized death rates (SDR), annual percentage change (APC) and the average annual percentage change (AAPC).

The number of deaths due to MBD in Poland increased from 1,541 in 2000 to 5,018 in 2023. The standardized death rate (SDR) increased from 4.70 to 13.42 per 100,000 population (AAPC = 5.2%, p < 0.05). SDR increased more rapidly in women, i.e., from 1.50 to 8.09 (AAPC = 7.5%, p < 0.05) than in men, i.e., from 8.40 to 19.06 (AAPC = 4.3%, p < 0.05). Over 80% of all deaths in this group were caused by MBD due to alcohol use. SDR trends for these causes began to increase statistically significantly from 2013 at an annual rate of 8.1% (p < 0.05), reaching 6.9 in 2023. In the male group, APC in 2013–2023 was 8.3% (p < 0.05), and SDR in 2023 was 12.9. In the female group, the APC in 2014–2020 was 13.1% (p < 0.05), and SDR in 2023 was 1.7. A statistically significant increase in SDR due to dementia was also observed from 2011. APC between 2011 and 2023 was 26.4% (23.6% in the male group and 27.9% in the female group). In 2023, SDR was 5.04 (4.34 and 5.25, respectively).

The increase in mortality due to MBD related to excessive alcohol consumption and population aging is a growing public health challenge that requires systemic intervention.