Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and chronic renal failure (CRF) represent significant causes of mortality in the United States, particularly among individuals aged 65 and older. This study analyzes trends in mortality rates from CVD and CRF in this age group from 1999 to 2022, focusing on demographic and geographic disparities.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database, including death certificates from 1999 to 2022. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) were calculated for CVD and CRF, and temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression. The analysis was stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic region.

Results: Between 1999 and 2022, there were 1,260,136 deaths from CVD and CRF in individuals aged 65 and older. The AAMRs for CVD and CRF increased from 100.9 in 1999 to 141.2 in 2020 (APC: 0.86, 95% CI: -0.56, 2.59). CVD-related deaths showed an AAMR of 2749.9 (95% CI: 2748.9–2751.0) and CRF-related deaths had an AAMR of 170.6 (95% CI: 170.4–170.9). Mortality rates were higher in men (AAMR: 162.6) than in women (AAMR: 94.2). Non-Hispanic (NH) African Americans had the highest AAMRs (214.2), followed by NH American Indians (153.2), and Hispanic or Latinos (125.4). Geographically, the South had the highest proportion of deaths (34.7%), while non-metropolitan areas exhibited a higher upward trend in mortality rates compared to metropolitan areas.

Conclusion: This study highlights significant trends in CVD and CRF-related mortality in older adults, with notable demographic and regional disparities. These findings emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions to address these growing health challenges in the aging population.