Background and objectives: The mortality from Parkinson disease (PD) and its long-term trends in the United States in recent decades remains unknown. This study aimed to describe the trends in PD mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2019.
Methods: We used data from the National Vital Statistics System, a nationwide, population-based death registry, to determine national trends in PD mortality, overall and by age, sex, race/ethnicity, urban-rural classification, and geographic location. Analyses focused on the data from 479,059 deaths due to PD from 1999 to 2019. Joinpoint regression was performed to examine temporal trends in age-adjusted death rates.
Results: The age-adjusted mortality from PD increased from 5.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.3-5.5) per 100,000 population in 1999 to 8.8 (95% CI, 8.7-8.9) per 100,000 population in 2019, with an average annual percent change of 2.4% (95% CI, 1.8%-3.0%). From 1999 to 2019, PD mortality increased significantly across all age groups, both sexes, various racial/ethnic groups, and different urban-rural classifications. The US states and District of Columbia with reported death rates all experienced an increase in PD mortality. Significant differences by sex and race/ethnicity were noted. Age-adjusted PD mortality rates were twice as high in men as in women and were greater in White individuals than those from other racial/ethnic groups.
Discussion: From 1999 to 2019, the mortality from PD in the United States has increased significantly. The increase was regardless of age, sex, race/ethnicity, urban-rural classification, and geographic location. A comprehensive evaluation of long-term trends in PD mortality is important for health care priority setting.
© 2021 American Academy of Neurology.