Objective: To assess the mortality trends and disparities associated with Parkinson’s disease in diabetic patients in the U.S.
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. In the United States, PD-related mortality has increased substantially over the past two decades. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has been increasingly linked to the progression and severity of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in older adults. Despite this growing concern, little research has examined long-term trends in PD-related mortality among individuals with DM in the U.S.
Method: A cross-sectional analysis of death certificates from the CDC WONDER database assessed PD-related mortality trends among individuals aged ≥55 with DM from 1999 to 2020. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 people were calculated. Annual percent change (APC) in AAMRs with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was determined to assess trends. Analyses were stratified by year, sex, race/ethnicity, urban-rural classification, and geographic region.
Results: From 1999 to 2020, 72,059 deaths were recorded due to PD in adults ≥55 with DM. The AAMR increased from 3.91 in 1999 to 5.12 in 2018 (APC: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.17–0.95), then surged to 7.17 in 2020 (APC: 21.5, 95% CI: 10.02–34.21). Males had higher AAMRs than females (7.29 vs. 2.98). Among racial groups, AAMRs were highest in Hispanic/Latino (5.61), followed by Non-Hispanic (NH) White (4.77), NH Asian/Pacific Islander (4.15), and NH Black/African American (3.93) populations. The Midwest had the highest AAMRs (5.3), followed by the West (4.9), South (4.5), and Northeast (4.0). Rural areas had persistently higher AAMRs than urban areas (5.51 vs. 4.53). The states with the highest AAMRs were Nebraska, Vermont, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Minnesota.
Conclusion: From 2018 to 2020, PD-related mortality in diabetic patients in the U.S. has increased drastically across nearly all demographics. Given its concurrence with DM and other chronic illnesses, PD should be viewed as a multisystemic disease. A holistic approach emphasizing preventative care, proactive comorbidity management, and robust social support is essential for this vulnerable population.
Mortality Trends by Gender
Mortality Trends by Race
Mortality Trends by Urbanization
Mortality Trends by Census Region
Mortality Trends by States
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
T. Patel, R. Khan, M. Athar, S. Aleem, A. Khan, M. Altaf, A. Khan, M. Shahabi, B. Aslam, E. Zulfiqar, R. Millis, A. Awosika. Mortality Trends Associated with Parkinson’s Disease with Diabetes Mellitus in the United States (1999-2020) [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/mortality-trends-associated-with-parkinsons-disease-with-diabetes-mellitus-in-the-united-states-1999-2020/. Accessed October 5, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/mortality-trends-associated-with-parkinsons-disease-with-diabetes-mellitus-in-the-united-states-1999-2020/