Years of Potential Life Lost Due to COVID-19 in Sonora, Mexico: A Cross-Sectional Study on Premature Mortality

Background: Estimating years of potential life lost (YPLL) emphasizes causes of death that disproportionally affect younger populations, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study estimated the YPLL due to COVID-19 in the state of Sonora, Mexico, from 2020 to 2022. Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study using mortality data from 2020 to 2022. YPLL was estimated following the methodology of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study. Results were stratified by selected sociodemographic characteristics. Results: A total of 12,021 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in Sonora, resulting in 171 173.25 YPLL. Men experienced higher YPLL than women across most age groups. Adults aged 55–69 accounted for 39.0% of total YPLL. Among individuals aged ≤40 years, YPLL rose from 6,889 in 2020 (7.7%) to 7,742 in 2021 (11.5%). Higher average YPLL was observed among individuals with partners (15.10), without entitlement to health services (15.3), with high school education (17.69) and those residing in urban areas (14.33). Conclussion: These findings underscore the value of YPLL estimation in capturing premature mortality that traditional death counts may overlook. This approach offers a more nuanced understanding of the pandemic’s impact and supports the need for more equitable and targeted public health interventions, particularly in regional contexts such as northwestern Mexico.