Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Introduction: High levels of blood pressure (BP) are responsible for 7.6 million deaths each year worldwide, more than any other risk factor. The diagnosis of hypertension is associated with a significant increase in the risk of kidney or cardiovascular events, with no prior history of these events. Our study aims to analyze trends in hypertensive heart disease and hypertensive heart and kidney disease-related mortality in the United States, focusing on different races.
Method: We retrieved death certificate data from the CDC-WONDER database for adults aged ≥25 years. Crude mortality rates (CMRs) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 persons were calculated. Temporal trends were examined using the average annual percent change (AAPC) determined by joinpoint regression.
Result: From 1999 to 2020, a total of 100,705 people died from hypertensive heart and renal disease in the USA. The overall AAMR of 1.4 per 100,000 displayed a trend during this period (AAPC: 4.8, 95% CI [3.3–6.2]). Total deaths from hypertensive heart disease and renal disease associated with heart failure were 5,274, showing an increasing trend from 1999 to 2020. The AAMR for hypertensive heart and renal disease with heart failure was 0.1 (AAPC: 5.2, 95% CI [3.8–6.7]). Black or African Americans have the highest AAMR (0.1, 95% CI [0.1–0.1]). Total deaths from hypertensive heart disease and renal disease associated with renal failure were 34,519, showing an increasing trend from 1999 to 2020. The AAMR for hypertensive heart and renal disease with renal failure was 0.4 (AAPC: 3.9, 95% CI [2.6–5.1]). Black or African American has the highest AAMR (1.6, 95% CI [1.5–1.6]), followed by American Indian or Alaska Native (0.5, 95% CI [0.4–0.5]), Asians and Pacific Islanders (0.4, 95% CI [0.4–0.4]), and White (0.4, 95% CI [0.3–0.4]).
Conclusion: African Americans and other identified high-risk races should get targeted therapies to reduce the burden of hypertensive-related morbidity and mortality; those with renal impairment should receive special attention. The goals of these interventions ought to be to increase access to healthcare, raise public knowledge of hypertension, and support lifestyle changes.