Burden of disease, incidence, and spatial distribution of Schizophrenia in Ecuador from 2011 to 2021 using hospital discharge records

Abstract

Abstract Purpose the aim of this study is to determine the incidence, burden of disease, and spatial distribution of Schizophrenia in Ecuador in a ten-year period. Methods publicly available hospital discharge records from 2011 to 2021 were analyzed to determine incidence, DALYs, and spatial distribution of schizophrenia cases for that period. Results From 2010 to 2021, a total of 10542 schizophrenia cases were reported. There was a significant negative association between time and incidence rates, suggesting an important decrease in schizophrenia cases throughout the study time. The estimated burden of disease of schizophrenia in Ecuador varied from 153.054 to 289.785 per 100,000 population on average depending on the scenario used for estimation. Highest incidence clusters were in Guayas and Pichincha, location of the two most populous cities in the country. Conclusion This is the first study to characterize in detail the incidence and burden of schizophrenia in Ecuador. The results obtained could contribute to the refinement and formulation of health policies, the allocation of government resources and the improvement of health surveillance systems to improve the quality and scope of care provided to individuals affected by this disorder.