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. 2020 Sep 30;18(Suppl 1):6.
doi: 10.1186/s12963-020-00204-5.

Depressive disorders in Brazil: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Cecília Silva Costa Bonadiman  1 , Deborah Carvalho Malta  2 , Valéria Maria de Azeredo Passos  2   3 , Mohsen Naghavi  4 , Ana Paula Souto Melo  5   6
Affiliations

Depressive disorders in Brazil: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Cecília Silva Costa Bonadiman et al. Popul Health Metr. .

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the major causes of disability worldwide. The objective of this study was to analyze the results of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD-2017) for depressive disorders in Brazil and its Federated Units (FUs) in 1990 and 2017.

Methods: We used GBD-2017 study methodology to evaluate the prevalence estimates, the disability-adjusted life-year (DALY), and the years lived with disability (YLDs) for depressive disorders, which include major depressive disorder and dysthymia. The YLD estimates and the position of these disorders in the DALY and YLD rankings were compared to those of seven other countries. The observed versus expected YLD, based on the sociodemographic index (SDI), were compared.

Results: In GBD-2017, the prevalence of depressive disorders in Brazil was 3.30% (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 3.08 to 3.57), ranging from 3.79% (3.53 to 4.09) in Santa Catarina to 2.78% in Pará (2.56 to 3.03), with significant differences between the Federated Units. From 1990 to 2017, there was an increase in number of YLD (55.19%, 49.57 to 60.73), but a decrease in the age-standardized rates (- 9.01%, - 11.66 to - 6.31). The highest proportion of YLD was observed in the age range of 15-64 years and among females. These disorders rank 4th and 13th as leading causes of YLD and DALY, respectively, in Brazil. In the other countries evaluated, the ranking of these disorders in the YLD classification was close to Brazil's, while in the DALY classification, there was higher variability. All countries had YLD rates similar to the overall rate. The observed/expected YLD ratio ranged from 0.81 in Pará to 1.16 in Santa Catarina. Morbidity of depressive disorders was not associated with SDI.

Conclusions: Depressive disorders have been responsible for a high disability burden since 1990, especially in adult women living in the Southern region of the country. The number of people affected by these disorders in the country tends to increase, requiring more investment in mental health aimed at advancements and quality of services. The epidemiological studies of these disorders throughout the national territory can contribute to this planning and to making the Brazilian health system more equitable.

Keywords: Depressive disorders; Descriptive epidemiology; Disability-adjusted life years; Mental disorders; Mental health.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Socio-demographic Index, rate and ranking of DALY and YLD, worldwide, Brazil and other countries, GBD-2017
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Leading ten causes of YLDs in Brazil and Federative Units, both sexes, GBD-2017
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Number of YLD by age groups and sex for depressive disorders, Brazil, GBD-2017
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Ratio of observed/expected YLD for depressive disorders, given the socio-demographic index, Brazil and states, GBD-2017
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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