Years of Life Lost due to Premature Mortality in a Province with the Shortest Life Expectancy in Poland

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate years of life lost for citizens of the Lodz Province, which is characterized by the lowest life expectancy in Poland, and to identify current trends in this area according to the most common causes of death.

Methods: The study material included a database containing information gathered from 470,000 death certificates of Lodz Province inhabitants, who died between 1999 and 2011. In order to calculate years of life lost, the authors applied the SEYLLp (Standard Expected Years of Life Lost per living person) and SEYLLd (per death) indices. The analysis of time trends was carried out with the application of joinpoint models.

Results: The SEYLLp measure was 2,300 years per 10,000 males and 1,500 years per 10,000 females in 2011. Cardiovascular diseases contributed to the highest number of years of life lost (SEYLLp=682 years per 10,000 males and 559 years per 10,000 females). Next were malignant neoplasms (SEYLLp=505 years per 10,000 males and 437 years per 10,000 females), external causes of death (SEYLLp=361 years per 10,000 males and 83 years per 10,000 females). The number of years of life lost due to acute myocardial infarction decreased most rapidly, the Annual Percent Change (APC) was -10.1% in males and -3.7% in females. However, heart failure contributed to the highest increase in the number of years of life lost (APC=10.8% in males and 10.9% in females).

Conclusions: A further decrease in the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases might contribute to the highest reduction of years of life lost. The most effective preventive activities are those aimed at reducing productive years of life lost due to a particular cause of death, i.e. road traffic accidents, suicides, cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholic liver disease, and malignant neoplasms of the trachea, bronchi and lungs.

Keywords: Lodz province; Poland; burden of disease; premature mortality; standard expected years of life lost.