Trends in bipolar disorder-related mortality in the United States, 1999-2023: A CDC WONDER database analysis

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a class of mood disorders that poses a significant diagnostic challenge for clinicians. With its unknown etiology and the increasing disability burden it contributes to, BD necessitates further study to improve patient outcomes. Our study aimed to characterize the demographic trends in BD-related mortality using the CDC WONDER database.

The CDC WONDER database was utilized to collect data on the mortality burden from 1999 to 2023. Data was stratified by race or ethnicity, sex, age, rural or urban designation, and census region. Data analysis was performed using Joinpoint analysis to help determine trends as well as statistical significance.

Our study found that the rate at which BD was mentioned in death certificates increased throughout the study period and mortality associated with BD increased with age. Additionally, the study found statistically significant increases in age adjusted mortality rate when analyzed in groups. Not only was mortality rate determined to be higher amongst females than their male counterparts, variation by race and ethnicity also persisted, with mortality being highest among the Non-Hispanic White cohort. Mortality burden varied by region, with higher mortality rates in rural areas than in urban areas and in the Midwest United States, compared to other census regions.

Our study expands on prior research related to trends in mortality of BD and aims to highlight the disproportionate mortality burdens related to BD as a potential guide towards future management strategies. Further studies related to how the increased utilization of mental health resources, including telehealth, and focus on earlier treatment initiation can be useful to guide mental health practices in the future.