An Epidemiological study of mortality among elderly in Iran using Years of Life Lost (YLL) index during 2011 to 2017

Objective (s): The epidemiological transition causes changes and accumulation of diseases and deaths in old age. This study presents information on the leading causes of deaths for elderly (aged 60 and over) in Iran for this group for 2011 to 2017. Methods: This was a secondary analysis and is primarily based on data available in the Census and Civil Registration Organization. Deaths in 17 groups of causes according to the international classification of diseases-10 [ICD-10] were analyzed by sex and age groups. The main causes of deaths identified using YLL index and compared by time, gender and age. Results: During the study period more than 65 percent of all deaths occurred in elderly adults. About half of the deaths of elderly were related to cardiovascular diseases. Deaths due to cancer and tumors, and respiratory diseases were about 10%. The number of YLL for men and women in the year 2016 were 118027 and 1174054, respectively. Conclusion: The epidemiological transition has taken placed and was associated with the spread of chronic diseases and the emergence of deaths attributable to social factors.