Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41287104›Full record

ArticleArchives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique2025

Spatiotemporal trends in hospitalizations and mortality due to mental disorders in Ecuador (2014-2023): a national epidemiological study.

Cristina Núñez-Vásquez, Karina Lalangui-Vivanco, Mónica Izurieta-Guevara, Yekaterina Altuna, Daniel Simancas-Racines, Emmanuelle Quentin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Cristina Núñez-VásquezCentro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Facultad Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, 170527, Ecuador. cristina.nunez@ute.edu.ec.
Karina Lalangui-VivancoCentro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Facultad Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, 170527, Ecuador. karina.lalangui@ute.edu.ec.
Mónica Izurieta-GuevaraCentro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Facultad Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, 170527, Ecuador.
Yekaterina AltunaCentro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Facultad Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, 170527, Ecuador.
Daniel Simancas-RacinesCentro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Facultad Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, 170527, Ecuador.
Emmanuelle QuentinCentro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC), Facultad Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, 170527, Ecuador. emmanuelle.quentin@ute.edu.ec.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental disorders constitute a growing public health concern, accounting for a substantial share of global morbidity and mortality. In Ecuador, despite increasing policy attention, the availability of epidemiological evidence remains limited. This study examines hospitalizations and mortality due to mental disorders (ICD-10 F00–F99) from 2014 to 2023, aiming to generate robust evidence to support informed decision-making and strengthen mental health planning within the national health system.

methodsThis study analyzed data from national public-access registries. Descriptive statistics were calculated by sex, age, year, region, and province, and crude rates per 100,000 inhabitants were estimated. Spatiotemporal patterns were examined using k-means clustering and visualized through thematic maps.

resultsBetween 2014 and 2023, Ecuador recorded 93,680 hospitalizations and 2,281 deaths due to mental disorders, with the highest hospitalization burden observed among individuals aged 20–29 years and a notable increase among females aged 10–19. Substance use disorders predominated in men, whereas mood disorders were more frequent in women. Spatial clustering revealed distinct regional patterns, with the Sierra region, home to approximately 43% of the population, exhibiting the highest hospitalization and mortality rates, whereas the Galápagos province showed extreme temporal variability.

conclusionOver the past decade, Ecuador has experienced a steady increase in hospitalizations and deaths associated with mental disorders. The results underscore the urgent need to strengthen community-based mental health systems, update national care models, and develop evidence-based promotion and prevention strategies.

Indexed as

EcuadorEpidemiological profileMental disordersMental healthSustainable development goals

Identifiers

PMID41287104
PMCPMC12751578

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.