Fifteen-year mortality trends in Poland analysed with the use of standard expected years of life lost, 2000–2014

The aim of the study is an evaluation of years of life lost by inhabitants of Poland according to the most important causes of mortality and identification of trends in the period 2000–2014. The study material included a database which contained information gathered from 5,601,568 death certificates of inhabitants of Poland. In order to calculate years of life lost, the SEYLL(p) index (Standard Expected Years of Life Lost per living person) was applied. We also calculated AAPC (Average Annual Percentage Change). The SEYLL(p) index (per 10,000 population) in Poland decreased from 2503.4 in 2000 to 2193.2 in 2014 among males (AAPC = −0.8%, p < 0.05) and from 1430.2 in 2000 to 1269.4 in 2014 among females (AAPC = −0.6%, p < 0.05). In 2014, the top 5 causes of years of life lost were: cardiovascular diseases (721.4 per 10,000 males and 475.6 per 10,000 females), malignant tumours (575.5 and 418.3), unintentional injuries (202.2 and 46.8), intentional injuries (114.6 and 16.3) and digestive diseases (120.2 and 58.3). Due to negative trends, there is a need to implement preventative measures, aimed at reducing mortality caused by respiratory infections in both males and females, malignant tumours in females and diabetes mellitus and intentional injuries in males.