Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here):
Introduction: Heart failure (HF) majorly affects the elderly, but can also affect the younger population. This study aims to examine the trends of HF-related deaths among reproductive-aged women in the United States (US).

Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database, extracting data through ICD-10 codes I11, I13.0, I13.2, and I50 to find HF-related deaths among women aged 15-44 from 1999 to 2019. We examined demographic disparities in HF mortality rates over time, considering age, ethnicity, and geographic areas. Results were reported as age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Joinpoint regression assessed trend changes and annual percentage change (APC).

Results: Between 1999 and 2019, a total of 43,683 women aged 15-44 died from HF in the US, with an AAMR of 3.5 per 100,000 (95% CI: 3.5-3.5). The AAMR increased from 2.6 in 1999 to 4.8 in 2019. Non-Hispanic Black women had the highest AAMR at 10.2, while Hispanics had the lowest at 1.8. Geographically, the South was the most affected region with an AAMR of 4.6, contributing to nearly half (48.9%) of all deaths. States including Massachusetts, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Minnesota had the lowest AAMRs. Rural areas showed a higher AAMR compared to urban areas (4.4 Vs. 3.3). The age group (35-44) accounted for the majority of deaths (73.7%).

Conclusion: HF-related mortality among reproductive-aged women increased from 1999 to 2019, with the highest burden among non-Hispanic Black women and those in the Southern region. Enhancing access to care, particularly in rural areas, and implementing targeted prevention programs are vital to reducing mortality rates.