Temporal Trends in Mortality Related to Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation in the United States: A 21-Year Retrospective Analysis of CDC-WONDER Database

Abstract

Aims

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is one of the most strongly associated risk factors for stroke. Our study aims to analyze changes in mortality from 1999 to 2020 in patients with AF and stroke.

Methods

Using the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC-WONDER), we retrospectively analyzed annual age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per million from 1999 to 2020 in stroke patients with AF. Temporal trends were analyzed, and Annual Percentage Change (APC) was calculated using the JoinPoint regression model across variations in demographics (sex, race) and regional subgroups.

Results

Around 490 000 deaths were reported between 1999 and 2020 from stroke and AF across the 25–85+ age group. AAMR initially decreased until 2008 (APC = –0.9), followed by an increase till 2020 (APC = 1.1). Women had a higher AAMR than men throughout the years. Non-Hispanic white patients had a marginally higher AAMR than all other races and ethnicities. The highest AAMR was observed in the western region. States like Vermont, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Minnesota, and West Virginia were in the top 90th percentile, while Nevada, Louisiana, Florida, New York, New Mexico, and Arizona were in the bottom 10th percentile. Nonmetropolitan areas had consistently higher AAMRs throughout the 2 decades.

Conclusion

An overall rise in mortality has been observed in stroke and AF patients, with a greater surge in 2019. The need for healthcare policy changes, especially in areas with high mortality and awareness of healthier lifestyle factors, can be an essential preventative measure to help mitigate growing mortality rates.