J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2026 Oct 3. doi: 10.1007/s40615-026-03215-4. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiac arrest (CA) drive significant mortality and healthcare costs in the U.S., yet national trends and disparities remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate national trends in mortality involving concurrent T2DM and CA among the U.S. adult population.
METHODS: Using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database, we analyzed deaths among U.S. adults aged ≥ 25 (1999-2020) from T2DM (ICD-10: E11) and CA (ICD-10: I46), calculating crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 and estimating annual percent change (APC) via Joinpoint regression stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, age and geography.
RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2020, 258,675 deaths involving both T2DM and CA occurred. AAMRs increased from 1999 to 2014 (APC 2.72) and surged through 2020 (APC 9.55). Mortality was higher in men than in women (AAMR 6.75 vs. 4.36). Marked racial and ethnic disparities were observed, with the highest mortality rates among Hispanic (AAMR 10.92) and non-Hispanic (NH) American Indian/Alaska Native populations (10.16), while NH Whites had the lowest rates (4.35). The sharpest increases in AAMR were observed in younger adults. Geographically, the Western region and metropolitan areas exhibited the highest mortality burden. At the state level, California had the highest AAMR, whereas Maryland had the lowest.
CONCLUSIONS: Mortality related to coexisting T2DM and CA increased substantially in the United States from 1999 to 2020, with an accelerated rise after 2014, particularly among younger adults and ethnic minorities. These findings highlight an urgent need for targeted cardiovascular preventive strategies in these high-risk cohorts.
PMID:42829406 | DOI:10.1007/s40615-026-03215-4