Mortality from neurodegenerative diseases in Ecuadorian adults: A descriptive analysis

Abstract

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases present with a variety of debilitating manifestations, which can lead to death. Individuals affected by this group of pathologies show higher mortality rates than other general and nervous system diseases. Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of deaths from neurodegenerative diseases in Ecuadorian adults in 2023. Methodology: A descriptive study using mortality data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). The mean, median, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis were calculated for age and sex. Results: The percentage of deaths was higher in women (56%) than in men. The median age was 85 years, and the predominant age group was 81-90 years (40.9%). 69% of deaths occurred at home. Most of the deceased had a low educational level (70%). 537 were married, and 402 were widowed. Forty-eight percent of the deceased lived in the country's two most populated provinces (Pichincha, n = 431, and Guayas, n = 210). Alzheimer's disease/dementia was the leading cause of death in both sexes. The 81-90 age group was the most affected (9.4% for men and 13.8% for women). 

Conclusion: High mortality rates from dementia/Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease were found among adults of both sexes, primarily in the 81-90 age group. The most populated provinces had the highest number of deaths. Deaths were more frequent among men and in older age groups, with an increasing trend starting at age 80.