Objective To understand the changes of Parkinson's disease burden in China from 1990 to 2019 and provide scientific evidence for decision-making for the prevention and control of Parkinson's disease.

Methods The Global Disease Burden Database in 2019 was used to evaluate the incidence and mortality levels of Parkinson's disease in China in terms of crude morbidity rate, crude mortality rate, and standardized morbidity and mortality rates. The gender and age specific disease burden of Parkinson's disease were assessed by using disability adjusted life years (DALYs), and the changes in the disease burden from 1990 to 2019 were analyzed.

Results Compared with 1990, the cases and deaths of Parkinson's disease in China increased by 203.93% and 140.63%, respectively, in 2019. The crude morbidity and mortality rates increased by 152.98% and 100.37%, respectively, while the standardized morbidity rate increased by 15.33%, and the standardized mortality rate decreased by 17.58%. The overall standardized DALYs rate showed a downward trend average annual percent change(AAPC)=−0.50%, P<0.001. The decrease was more rapid in women compared with men (AAPC=−0.95%, P<0.001). The DALYs rate showed an upward trend in people aged 15–49 years (AAPC=0.93%, P<0.001), while showed a downward trend in people aged 50–74 years and ≥75 years (AAPC=−0.57%, AAPC=−0.56%, P<0.001). In terms of DALYs composition, years of life lost (YLLs) accounted for higher proportion compared with years lived with disability (YLDs), and showed a downward trend. The standardized DALYs rate of Parkinson's disease in China was at high level in countries with similar social and demographic indexes at all levels in the world.

Conclusion The disease burden of Parkinson's disease in China remains at high level, especially in the elderly and men. It is essential to strengthen research of the pathogenesis and risk factors of Parkinson's disease, impeove surveillance for Parkinson's disease risk factors, and slow the progression of Parkinson's disease.