# Trends in mortality of the WHO-recommended diseases for palliative care in the Republic of Korea, 2014–2023

## TL;DR

This study examines trends in mortality from diseases requiring palliative care in South Korea from 2014 to 2023, highlighting the growing need for palliative care services.

## Contribution

The study provides updated mortality trends and shifts in death locations for WHO-recommended palliative care diseases in South Korea.

## Key findings

- Mortality from WHO-recommended palliative care diseases increased by 16.4% despite declining age-standardized rates.
- Home deaths began rising around 2019, reversing a previous downward trend and showing a significant sex gap.
- The study emphasizes the need for expanded palliative care services due to increasing mortality burdens and demographic shifts.

## Abstract

The global burden of diseases requiring palliative care is increasing due to aging populations and rising non-communicable diseases. The WHO predicts an 87% increase in serious health-related suffering by 2060. In the Republic of Korea, more than half of the leading causes of death require palliative care. This study aims to analyze 10-year mortality trends and changes in places of death for WHO-recommended diseases requiring palliative care.

This study analyzed Cause of Death Statistics and Resident Registration Population Statistics from 2014 to 2023, provided by the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS). Age-standardized rates (ASR) and annual percentage changes (APC) were calculated to examine mortality trends by demographic and geographic factors.

The total number of deaths of the WHO-recommended diseases requiring palliative care increased by 16.4%, while the trends for ASR is decreasing. In particular, as deaths at home began to increase around 2019, the previous downward trend was reversed, and a significant sex gap was observed.

The increasing mortality burden from WHO-recommended diseases highlights the urgent need for expanded palliative care services in the Republic of Korea. While age-standardized mortality rates have generally declined, the rise in home-based deaths and continued demographic shifts reflect the importance of targeted interventions and improved access to home-care services.