Trends and disparities in coronary artery disease prevalence among U.S. adults from 2019 to 2022

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Understanding trends and potential disparities in CAD prevalence is crucial for public health strategies.

Examine trends and disparities in CAD prevalence among U.S. adults (2019-2022).

CDC's National Health Interview Survey's data was analyzed, employing regression analysis with Joinpoint and ARIMA models by ChatGPT-4 for trend forecasting.

CAD prevalence among U.S. adults was relatively stable, increasing slightly from 4.6 % (95 % CI: 4.3-4.9) in 2019 to 4.9 % (95 % CI: 4.7-5.2) in 2022. Males experienced significant rise in prevalence, with an APC of 3.1 % (95 % CI: 1.45-4.85, p-value < 0.000001), increasing from 5.9 % to 6.4 %. Female prevalence also increased significantly, with APC of 2.0 % (95 % CI: 0.46-3.59, p-value = 0.003599), moving from 3.4 % to 3.6 %. Notable age-related disparities appeared, especially in those aged 75 and over, with rates peaking at 20.0 % in 2020 before decreasing to 19.7 % in 2022. Racial disparities revealed higher prevalence among White adults at 5.4 % and noticeable increase among Asian adults from 2.8 % to 3.8 %. Geographic factors also influenced prevalence, particularly outside metropolitan areas, Northeast, and South regions of US. Employment status influenced CAD rates and a lower prevalence observed in the employed (1.7 % to 1.9 %) compared to unemployed (9.9 % to 10.3 %). Veterans (13.4 % to 12.6 %) reported higher prevalence rates than non-veterans. ARIMA projections suggest stable prevalence until 2026.

Despite stable overall prevalence, significant disparities exist. Targeted interventions are essential, particularly for high-risk demographics such as males, older adults, and veterans.