Medicine (Baltimore). 2026 Aug 14;105(33):e50107. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000050107.
ABSTRACT
Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and cerebral infarction share risk factors and are leading cardiovascular causes of death. We analyzed national mortality trends and disparities for co-occurring IHD and cerebral infarction in older United States adults. Using the CDC WONDER database, we analyzed 1999 to 2023 death records for adults aged ≥55 listing both conditions as underlying or contributing causes. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1,00,000 and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated via Joinpoint regression. Of 1,06,423 deaths, the overall AAMR declined from 1999 to 2011 (APC: -11.42), then rose sharply through 2023 (APC: 9.64). Females comprised 50.20% of absolute deaths, but males had a higher 2023 AAMR (7.2 vs 4.9). Non-Hispanic African Americans had the highest AAMR (6.5). The West (6.0) and nonmetropolitan areas (6.0) faced the heaviest mortality burdens. Following a decade of decline, mortality for comorbid IHD and cerebral infarction increased significantly after 2011. Disparities among males, Non-Hispanic African Americans, and rural populations underscore the need for targeted healthcare interventions and equitable resource allocation.
PMID:42601772 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000050107