Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the burden and temporal trends of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among adults aged ≥60 years in Iran from 1990 to 2023.
Design: Systematic analysis.
Setting(s): Iran.
Participants: Adults aged 60 years and older.
Outcome Measures: Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study. Using GBD methods, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates for CVDs from 1990 to 2023 were estimated for Iran to allow comparisons across time. Then, analyses were conducted based on age, gender, province, and cause of CVDs, and 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) were reported.
Results: In 2023, approximately 3.4 million (95% UI: 3.0–3.8) CVD cases were estimated among individuals aged ≥60 years in Iran, corresponding to a rate of 34,612.8 per 100,000 population. The number of deaths rose from around 81,000 in 1990 to 113,000 in 2023, yet the death rate fell by 54.9% over this period, and the DALY rate declined by 61.1%. The burden of CVD increased markedly with age and was consistently higher among males. Ischaemic heart disease remained the leading contributor to CVD prevalence, mortality, and DALYs, followed by stroke. Considerable provincial variations were also observed, with a higher burden in several western and northern provinces.
Conclusion: Although the mortality and DALY rates for CVD among older adults in Iran declined substantially between 1990 and 2023, the absolute burden has continued to rise as a result of population ageing and demographic growth. Strengthening prevention strategies aimed at the major metabolic and behavioural risk factors, improving long-term cardiovascular care, and addressing regional disparities will therefore be essential to mitigate the future burden of CVD in Iran’s ageing population.