Background:

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a leading neurodegenerative disorder associated with increasing global morbidity and premature mortality. Despite its growing burden, national trends in PD-related mortality and years of potential life lost (YPLL) remain understudied in Iran.

Objectives:

To examine temporal trends in PD-related mortality and YPLL in Iran from 2013 to 2023 and to assess demographic and regional disparities.

Methods:

This repeated cross-sectional study used data from the Iranian National Death Registration System. All deaths attributed to PD (ICD-10 codes G20 and G21) between 2013 and 2023 were included. Crude age-specific and cause-specific mortality rates were calculated, and YPLL was estimated using standard methods. Temporal trends were assessed using regression-based analyses. Spatial patterns were evaluated using ArcGIS, and statistical analyses were performed in Stata version 17.

Results:

A total of 9229 PD-related deaths were recorded. Crude mortality rates increased from 0.21 per 100,000 in 2013 to 1.77 in 2023, while YPLL rose from 1.21 to 7.86 per 100,000. Males consistently exhibited higher mortality and YPLL than females. Geospatial analysis identified higher burdens in Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, Isfahan, and Fars. Lower rates in several rural provinces may partly reflect underreporting or disparities in healthcare access.

Conclusion:

The observed increase in crude PD-related mortality and YPLL over the past decade suggests a growing public health challenge in Iran. However, these trends should be interpreted with caution, as they may be influenced by population aging, improvements in diagnosis, and changes in death registration practices. Strengthening early diagnosis, specialized care, and equitable access to neurological services—particularly in underserved regions—remains a public health priority.

Plain language summary

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a brain disorder that causes problems with movement, balance, and coordination. It mostly affects older adults and can lead to serious health issues and early death. In recent years, PD has been affecting more people worldwide—including in Iran. This study looked at how many people in Iran died from Parkinson’s disease between 2013 and 2023, and how many years of life were lost because of these early deaths. The researchers used official death records from the Iranian Ministry of Health to collect data on all Parkinson’s-related deaths during these 10-years period. They found that more than 9,000 people died from PD in Iran during these years. In 2013, about 0.2 people per 100,000 died from PD, but by 2023, that number had increased to nearly 1.8 per 100,000. The number of “years of life lost” also went up, meaning that people were dying earlier than expected because of PD. Men had higher death rates than women, and more life years were lost among men. The researchers also looked at where in Iran these deaths were happening. Big cities like Tehran, Mashhad (Khorasan Razavi), Isfahan, and Shiraz (Fars) had the most deaths. Poorer and more rural areas had fewer deaths, but this could be because people there are not getting diagnosed properly or don’t have access to good medical care. This study shows that Parkinson’s disease is becoming a bigger problem in Iran. The authors say it’s important for the government to take action—such as improving early diagnosis, giving people better access to neurologists, and helping caregivers. They also recommend improving health records and research to better understand the disease and how to help people affected by it.