AN OVERVIEW OF TRENDS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE MORTALITY, TURKEY: 2009-2018

Abstract

Objective: Infectious diseases continue to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide. This descriptive epidemiological study aimed to evaluate the trends in mortality from infectious diseases in Turkey from 2009 to 2018 using joinpoint regression analysis. Material and Method: Mortality data used in this study, which belong to the years 2009-2018, were obtained from the Turkey National Institute of Statistics records. Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated using a direct method by the age group of the proposed world population. To identify significant changes in trends, joinpoint regression analysis was performed. Results: During the study period, about 168,000 people died from infectious diseases. The age-standardized mortality rate from the infectious disease increased f rom 9.82/100,000 in 2009 to 29.07/100,000 in 2018. Throughout the study period, mortality rates were consistently higher in males than in the female. During the period, the greatest significant increase in both males (23.2% per year) and females (23.1% per year) was in pneumonia. The results showed that pneumonia mortality was of great importance for elderly patients. Conclusion: To reduce the mortality rates associated with infection, protective measures should be taken in the elderly and, pneumonia and sepsis disease should be the focus of preventive policies in the elderly population.