Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Trends, 2010-2022: An Update with Final Data

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) rose significantly in 2020 and 2021.
• Provisional data suggested a continued increase in 2022, indicating substantial excess CVD deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide updated estimates of CVD AAMR and excess deaths using final data for 2022.
• To analyze trends in CVD mortality among U.S. adults aged 35 years and older from 2010 to 2022.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of final Multiple Cause of Death files from the National Vital Statistics System (2010-2022).
• Calculation of age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) for CVD as the underlying cause of death.
• Estimation of excess CVD deaths from 2020 to 2022 for U.S. adults aged ≥35 years.

Main Results:

• The CVD AAMR in 2022 was 434.6 deaths per 100,000, a decrease from 2021 (451.8) but similar to 2012 levels.
• Provisional 2022 data overestimated the final AAMR by 4.6%.
• An estimated 190,661 excess CVD deaths occurred between 2020 and 2022.

Conclusions:

• The CVD AAMR among U.S. adults aged ≥35 years declined in 2022, reversing the adverse trend observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Despite the recent decline, 2022 CVD mortality rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
• There is an ongoing necessity for robust cardiovascular disease prevention, detection, and management strategies.