Changes in Mortality by Place of Residence in Lithuania Before and After the 2014 Health Strategy
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate mortality trends by sex and place of residence for all causes and major causes of death before (1990–2013) and after (2014–2024) the implementation of the Lithuanian National Health Strategy, which was designed to improve population health, increase life expectancy, and reduce health inequalities.
Methods: Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated for all-cause mortality and separately for deaths due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, external causes, and diseases of the digestive system, stratified by sex and place of residence. Mortality trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression analysis.
Results: Between 1990 and 2013, mortality rates for all causes, CVD, and external causes significantly declined among both men and women in urban and rural areas, while cancer mortality also decreased in urban populations (P < 0.05). In contrast, mortality from diseases of the digestive system increased (P < 0.05). During 2014–2024, male mortality from all causes, cancer, and digestive system diseases in urban areas, as well as mortality from external causes in both urban and rural areas, showed significant decreases (P < 0.05). Among women, mortality from CVD and external causes in both urban and rural areas, and from cancer in urban areas, also declined (P < 0.05). The rate of mortality decline was faster during 2014–2024 compared with 1990–2013.
Conclusions: Following the implementation of the National Health Strategy, mortality of Lithuanian population decreased, reflecting improvements in population health. While causality cannot be definitively established, these trends indicate that the strategy may have contributed to accelerating the reduction of mortality.
Key messages: • Following the implementation of the Lithuanian Health Strategy, population mortality declined more rapidly.
• The implementation of the Health Strategy may have contributed to improvements in population health.
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BibTeX
@article{mesceriakova2026changes,
title = {{Changes in Mortality by Place of Residence in Lithuania Before and After the 2014 Health Strategy}},
author = {O Mesceriakova and D Stumbrys and R Kalediene and S Sauliune},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1904},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1904},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Changes in Mortality by Place of Residence in Lithuania Before and After the 2014 Health Strategy
AU - O Mesceriakova
AU - D Stumbrys
AU - R Kalediene
AU - S Sauliune
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1904
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1904
AB - Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate mortality trends by sex and place of residence for all causes and major causes of death before (1990–2013) and after (2014–2024) the implementation of the Lithuanian National Health Strategy, which was designed to improve population health, increase life expectancy, and reduce health inequalities. Methods: Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated for all-cause mortality and separately for deaths due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, external causes, and diseases of the digestive system, stratified by sex and place of residence. Mortality trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression analysis. Results: Between 1990 and 2013, mortality rates for all causes, CVD, and external causes significantly declined among both men and women in urban and rural areas, while cancer mortality also decreased in urban populations (P < 0.05). In contrast, mortality from diseases of the digestive system increased (P < 0.05). During 2014–2024, male mortality from all causes, cancer, and digestive system diseases in urban areas, as well as mortality from external causes in both urban and rural areas, showed significant decreases (P < 0.05). Among women, mortality from CVD and external causes in both urban and rural areas, and from cancer in urban areas, also declined (P < 0.05). The rate of mortality decline was faster during 2014–2024 compared with 1990–2013. Conclusions: Following the implementation of the National Health Strategy, mortality of Lithuanian population decreased, reflecting improvements in population health. While causality cannot be definitively established, these trends indicate that the strategy may have contributed to accelerating the reduction of mortality. Key messages: • Following the implementation of the Lithuanian Health Strategy, population mortality declined more rapidly. • The implementation of the Health Strategy may have contributed to improvements in population health.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -