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Temporal and spatial patterns of arthropod-related mortality in Iran: a nationwide analysis (2016-2023)
Parisa Soltan-Alinejad1, Reza Ebrahimoghli2, Elaheh Kazemi3
1Arthropod-Borne Diseases Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
Background:
This research was conducted to assess the arthropod-related mortality in Iran for the period 2016-2023.
Methods:
The information on arthropod-related mortality was collected from the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The descriptive analyses and charts were created using R version 3.4. ArcMap GIS 10.8.1 software was utilized to design and produce the study map. Temporal trends were examined using the Mann-Kendall test and Theil-Sen slope estimator, while seasonal patterns were assessed via the Hirsch-Slack modified test, Poisson regression with Fourier terms (to estimate annual percent change), chi-square goodness-of-fit, Kruskal-Wallis, Rayleigh's test, and STL decomposition. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
The highest arthropod-related mortality rates were observed in the southern and southeastern provinces, particularly Sistan and Baluchestan and Hormozgan, likely due to favorable ecological conditions supporting high densities of medically important arthropods. Among all recorded cases, the most frequent cause of death was ICD-10 code X22 (contact with venomous arthropods), accounting for 219 fatalities. A pronounced seasonal pattern was evident, with mortality peaking significantly during the warmer months of the year.
Conclusions:
Effective reduction of arthropod-related mortality requires timely, location-specific public health strategies, particularly in summer and in southern and southeastern Iran.
