Dyslipidemia and stroke-related mortality in the United States: a nationwide analysis for 2010-2020

Dyslipidemias are a significant risk factor for stroke. Still, there is limited data on mortality trends where both dyslipidemia and stroke are either contributing or underlying causes of death among adults aged ≥ 25 years. We aimed to evaluate the demographic, regional, and temporal trends in dyslipidemia and stroke-related mortality among adults from 2010 to 2020. The CDC WONDER mortality data were utilized to identify deaths with both dyslipidemia and stroke as either underlying or contributing causes of death in adults aged ≥ 25 years. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 and annual percent change (APC) were calculated and further categorized by year, sex, race/ethnicity, region, and urban-rural status. Joinpoint regression was used to determine changes in trends over time. Between 2010 and 2020, a total of 106,813 dyslipidemia and stroke-related deaths occurred among adults aged ≥ 25 years, with the most in medical facilities (35.7%), at home (27.7%), or in nursing/long-term care facilities (26.9%). The AAMR increased from 3.47 in 2010 to 5.47 in 2020, stable through 2018 (APC 1.6 [95% CI, −0.4 to 2.7]) then rising sharply (APC 15.1 [95% CI, 7.5 to 19.5]). Men had higher mortality than women (AAMR: 4.44 vs. 3.66). The Non-Hispanic (NH) Black or African American population had the highest overall AAMR (4.97), followed by the NH White population (3.99), the NH American Indian or Alaska Native population (3.87), the NH Asian or Pacific Islander population (3.59), and the Hispanic or Latino population (3.25) Vermont (10.15) and Georgia (1.99) had the highest and lowest state-level rates, respectively. Regionally, the West (4.61) exceeded the Northeast (3.43). Nonmetropolitan areas (4.81) had consistently higher mortality than metropolitan areas (3.85). Dyslipidemia and stroke-related mortality increased significantly after a period of stability. The highest AAMRs were observed in men, NH Black individuals, and people living in the Western US and nonmetropolitan areas. Effective policies are required to reduce these mortality rates and improve cardiovascular health.