Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: A report evaluating all-cause mortality in 30 major U.S. cities documented that inequality between Black and White populations in Washington, D.C. was the greatest. However, little is known about disparities in cause-specific mortality over time or by racial groups.
Aims: Evaluate trends in all-cause and cause-specific mortality in D.C. from 2000 to 2020 by race, and concurrently examine trends in cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.
Methods: Using the CDC WONDER database, we calculated age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 persons (2000-2020) for Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White populations in D.C. and corresponding rate ratios. Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) was examined with joinpoint regression. We examined the prevalence of risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and hypercholesterolemia) using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2000-2020).
Results: Among 102,710 deaths that occurred in D.C. (80% Black), cardiovascular diseases (CVD, 32%) and cancer (22%) accounted for over half of the deaths. All-cause mortality declined between 2000-2012 (AAPC: -2.9%, 95% CI: -5.6, 1.0) but stagnated between 2012-2018 (AAPC:-1.1%, 95% CI: -4.6, 0.9) and increased after 2018 (AAPC: 7.7%, 95% CI: 0.6, 11.9). CVD mortality declined between 2000-2011 and plateaued thereafter among Black individuals, contrasting with a monotonous decline (AAPC: -4.7%, 95% CI: -5.3, -4.0) among White individuals, resulting in a magnification of the disparities. Cancer mortality decreased over time for both White and Black individuals (AAPC: -3.4%, 95% CI: -3.9, -2.9 vs. AAPC: -1.8%, 95% CI: -2.1, -1.4, respectively), with a greater magnitude in White individuals. Risk factors were more prevalent among Black individuals over the period.
Conclusion: In D.C., the mortality rate is higher in Black vs. White populations, and disparities are increasing over time. While CVD and cancer mortality rates declined overall, profound disparities remain. CVD risk factors are more common in Black populations, with persisting disparities. There is an urgent need for CVD prevention and management, tailored to Black populations in D.C.