The geographic distribution of Parkinson's disease mortality in the United States

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines geographic variation in reporting of Parkinson's disease mortality in the U.S.

Methods: National Center for Health Statistics and Bureau of the Census data were used to map age-adjusted, race- and race-gender-specific Parkinson's disease mortality rates in the U.S. for 1988.

Results: Among whites, high underlying-cause rates predominated in the North and low rates predominated in the South, whereas high contributing and all-cause rates were concentrated in the northeastern U.S. Strong north-to-south decreasing gradients were present for both underlying- and all-cause rates for whites, regardless of gender, whereas a clear west-to-east gradient could not be demonstrated. Geographic variation in contributing- and all-cause rates was partially explained by variation in tendency to report contributing causes of death. Reported rates among blacks were significantly lower than among whites. There was no latitudinal or longitudinal gradient of underlying-cause rates for blacks, but there was a relatively weak north-to-south decreasing gradient of all-cause rates for blacks, regardless of gender.

Conclusions: The large-scale pattern of underlying-cause Parkinson's disease mortality among whites has persisted for over three decades.