Trend of etiology-attributed proportions of diarrhea-related deaths in Türkiye from 1990 to the present: A burden of disease study – the case of Türkiye

The aim of this study was to examine the temporal trends in mortality attributable to various etiological factors of diarrheal diseases in Türkiye between 1990 and 2021, using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study, and to analyze these trends in relation to non modifiable risk factors such as age and sex. According to the findings, deaths and disability-adjusted life years attributable to all but one etiological factor showed a decreasing trend between 1990 and 2021, while one factor exhibited an increasing trend over the same period. When age-specific deaths were examined, it was observed that two age groups (children under five years and individuals over seventy years) still accounted for a substantial proportion of deaths during 1990–2021. In conclusion, the findings indicate meaningful progress in reducing deaths due to diarrheal diseases; however, sustaining these achievements requires the continued implementation of pathogen-based strategies and age-focused interventions. The declining trend reflects the success of current efforts, yet it should also serve as a source of motivation to pursue even more ambitious targets.