Mortality Trends for Aortic Aneurysm Rupture in the United States, 1999-2020: A Population-Based Observational Study...

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Ruptured aortic aneurysm (rAA) is a critical vascular emergency with high fatality rates.
• Despite advancements, rAA mortality remains a significant public health concern.
• National trends and disparities in rAA mortality require ongoing investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze national trends in U.S. adult mortality due to ruptured aortic aneurysm (rAA) from 1999 to 2020.
• To identify and evaluate demographic and geographic disparities in rAA-related deaths.
• To inform targeted public health interventions and improve patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of CDC WONDER mortality data (1999-2020) for adults aged ≥25 years.
• Identification of deaths using ICD-10 codes specific to aortic aneurysms.
• Calculation of age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) and assessment of temporal trends using Joinpoint regression.

Main Results:

• A total of 118,211 deaths from rAA were recorded in the U.S. between 1999 and 2020.
• The overall age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) declined by 6.51% annually, from 4.87 to 1.15 per 100,000.
• Significant disparities were observed, with higher mortality in men, rural areas, non-Hispanic Whites, and the Midwest region, while mortality increased with age.

Conclusions:

• U.S. mortality due to ruptured aortic aneurysm (rAA) has shown a significant decline over two decades.
• Disparities in rAA mortality persist among women, older adults, and rural populations.
• Continued surveillance and targeted interventions are crucial to address these disparities and further reduce rAA-related deaths.