Abstract 4139353: <u>Geographic, Gender,&amp;Racial Trends in Mortality Due to Coronary Artery Disease in Obesity among Adults Aged 25 and Older in the United States, 1999-2020: A CDC WONDER Database Analysis</u>

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in obese population is the most common cause of mortality worldwide. This study examines the variation in cardiovascular mortality rates due to CAD in obese adults aged 25 and above from 1999 to 2020. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using death certificate data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research (CDC WONDER) database from 1999 to 2020. We calculated age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs), annual percent change (APC), and average annual percentage change (AAPC) per 100,000 persons. The information was categorized based on year, gender, ethnicity, and geographic area. Results: Between 1999 and 2020, CAD in obesity accounted for 102,434 deaths among adults (≥25 years) in the United States. Majority of deaths occurred in medical facilities (49.0%), followed by decedents' homes (36.8%). The overall AAMR for CAD in obesity-related deaths increased from 1.5 in 1999 to 3.3 in 2020, with an AAPC of 3.46 (95% CI: 2.83 to 3.92, p &lt; 0.000001). Men exhibited higher AAMRs compared to women (men: 2.7; women: 1.6), with significant increases for both sex. The increase was more prominent in men (AAPC: 4.34, 95% CI: 3.73 to 4.83, p &lt; 0.000001). Racial/ethnic disparities were evident, with American Indian or Alaska Native individuals having the highest AAMR (2.9), followed by Black or African American (2.4), White (2.3), Hispanic or Latino (1.3), and Asian or Pacific Islander (0.5). All racial groups experienced an increase in AAMR from 1999 to 2020, most pronounced in American Indian or Alaska Native individuals (AAPC: 5.06, 95% CI: 2.90 to 8.64, p &lt; 0.000001). Geographically, AAMRs ranged from 1.0 in Alabama to 4.3 in North Dakota, with the Midwestern region having the highest mortality (AAMR: 2.6). Nonmetropolitan areas exhibited higher AAMRs than metropolitan areas (nonmetropolitan: 2.8; metropolitan: 2.0). (Figure 1) Conclusion: This study highlights significant demographic disparities in mortality rates due to CAD in obesity among adults aged 25 and older. Despite an overall increase in mortality rates, the significant rise in recent years, particularly among certain racial groups and geographical regions, emphasize the need for targeted interventions and equal healthcare access to improve outcomes for affected populations.