Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD), related to high blood lipid levels, is a significant contributor to adult mortality in the United States. This study examines the patterns of CAD-related deaths associated with high lipid levels in adults aged 25 and above, with a specific focus on variations related to geography, gender, and race/ethnicity from 1999 to 2020.
Methods: This study employed a comprehensive retrospective analysis using death certificate data from the CDC WONDER database, covering 21 years from 1999 to 2020. We calculated age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs), annual percent change (APC), and average annual percentage change (AAPC) per 100,000 persons, categorized by year, gender, race/ethnicity, and geographic regions. This approach ensured a robust and reliable analysis of the trends in CAD-related deaths associated with high lipid levels.
Results: Between 1999 and 2020, CAD in individuals with high levels of lipids resulted in 407,667 deaths among adults aged 25 and above in the United States. The majority of these deaths occurred in medical facilities (40.1%) and at home (37.3%). The AAMR for CAD in individuals with high lipid levels increased from 4.1 in 1999 to 12.1 in 2020, showing an AAPC of 4.44 (95% CI: 3.69 to 5.48, p < 0.000001). Men had a higher AAMR (12.4) than women (5.6), and both sexes experienced significant increases over time. Disparities in AAMRs by race/ethnicity revealed the highest rates among Whites (8.9), followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives (8.6), Blacks (7.3), Hispanics (6.5), and Asians/Pacific Islanders (5.9). The most significant increase was observed in Blacks (AAPC: 5.07, p < 0.000001). This detailed breakdown of the disparities in CAD mortality rates among different racial and ethnic groups provides a clear picture of the health inequalities that need to be addressed.
Conclusion: This study emphasizes the discrepancies in CAD mortality related to high lipid levels among adults in the United States based on race, gender, and geographic location. The consistent rise in AAMRs between 1999 and 2020 emphasizes the necessity for specific public health interventions to tackle these increasing inequalities.