Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death for older individuals with hypertension. This research investigates the variations in stroke mortality rates and trends among 65-year-old hypertension patients in the US from 2000 to 2020.
Methods: The CDC WONDER database's mortality data from 2000 to 2020 was used for a retrospective analysis. Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) and Annual Percent Change (APC) were used to evaluate trends and produce age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 people. Data was stratified by year, sex, race/ethnicity, and geographical regions.
Results: Between 2000 and 2020, 598,341 deaths among individuals 65 years of age or older in the United States were related to stroke due to hypertension. Most occurred in nursing homes/long-term care facilities (36.7%). The overall AAMR for stroke in hypertension-related deaths dropped from 86.6 in 2000 to 51.8 in 2020, with an AAPC of -2.86 (95% CI: -3.18 to -2.61, p < 0.000001). Between 2000 and 2012, the AAMR had a considerable reduction (APC: -2.30, p < 0.000001). Subsequently, from 2012 to 2018, there was a more dramatic decrease (APC: -6.85, p < 0.000001) than a notable rise (APC: 6.45, p = 0.024) from 2018 to 2020. Older women had higher AAMRs than older men (women: 66.5; men: 60.1). Both sexes experienced decreases, with the decline more prominent in women (women: AAPC: -3.20, p < 0.000001; men: AAPC: -2.22, p < 0.000001). There were notable racial differences: Black people had the highest AAMRs (31.0), followed by White people (21.8), American Indians and Alaska Natives (18.6), Asians and Pacific Islanders (12.9), and Hispanics (12.5). All racial groups experienced decreases in AAMRs, most pronounced in Asians (AAPC: -4.62, p < 0.000001). Geographically, Massachusetts had the lowest (36.3), and Mississippi had the highest (117.7) AAMRs. The Western region had the highest average AAMR (71.8), while nonmetropolitan areas exhibited higher AAMRs than metropolitan areas (nonmetropolitan: 25.9; metropolitan: 20.7).
Conclusion: The study uncovers significant variations in mortality rates among elderly individuals in the US due to stroke and hypertension. The recent uptick emphasizes the necessity for targeted efforts to tackle these disparities and improve the health outcomes of affected communities.