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(HealthDay News) From 1999 to 2019, mortality from Parkinson disease (PD) increased in the United States, according to a study published online Oct. 27 in Neurology.

Shuang Rong, M.D., Ph.D., from the Wuhan University of Science and Technology in China, and colleagues describe trends in PD mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2019 using data from the National Vital Statistics System. The analyses focused on data from 479,059 PD deaths; temporal trends in age-standardized death rates were examined.

The researchers observed an increase in age-adjusted mortality from PD from 5.4 to 8.8 per 100,000 population in 1999 and 2019, respectively, with an average annual percent change of 2.4%. Across all age groups, both sexes, various racial/ethnic groups, and different urban/rural classifications, PD mortality increased significantly from 1999 to 2019. An increase in PD mortality was seen in U.S. states with reported death rates and the District of Columbia. There were significant differences by sex and race/ethnicity. Compared with women, men had age-adjusted PD mortality rates that were twice as high, and rates were greater in Whites than other racial/ethnic groups.

“It’s important to continue to evaluate long-term trends in Parkinson’s death rates,” a coauthor said in a statement. “This can inform future research that may help pinpoint why more people are dying of the disease. Also, updating vital statistics about Parkinson’s death rates may be used for priority setting and financing of health care and policy.”

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