National Mortality Trends Associated with Anomalous Aortic Origin of Coronary Artery in the United States: A CDC
Ahmed Kamal Siddiqi1, Kumail Mustafa Ali2, Syeda Ilsa Aaqil2
1From the Division of Cardiothoracic Imaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Insights
Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) mortality declined overall but remains high in men and Black individuals. Recent increases highlight the need for early detection and intervention for this rare congenital heart defect.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Congenital Heart Disease Epidemiology
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare congenital anomaly with limited mortality data.
- Understanding AAOCA-related mortality trends and disparities is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize temporal trends and demographic disparities in AAOCA-related mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2023.
- To identify specific populations disproportionately affected by AAOCA mortality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database for multiple-cause-of-death data.
- Analyzed age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) stratified by year, sex, race, region, and urbanization.
- Employed Joinpoint regression to compute annual percent changes in mortality rates.
Main Results:
- Overall AAOCA mortality showed a significant decline by 2020, followed by a recent increase.
- Males consistently exhibited higher AAMRs than females.
- Non-Hispanic Blacks had the highest AAMRs, followed by Non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanics.
- Mortality declined in younger age groups (<44 years) but plateaued in older adults (>45 years).
Conclusions:
- Despite an overall decline, AAOCA mortality remains a concern, particularly for men, Non-Hispanic Blacks, and residents of the Midwest.
- The recent rebound in mortality emphasizes the critical need for enhanced early detection, risk stratification, and surveillance strategies.
- Timely interventions are essential to mitigate the impact of AAOCA on public health.
Abstract:
Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare congenital anomaly affecting around 0.4-0.8% of the population, but limited mortality data exist. We characterized trends and disparities in AAOCA-related mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2023. We queried the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research multiple-cause-of-death database for AAOCA-related deaths among all age groups. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 1,000,000 population with 95% confidence interval, stratified by year, sex, race, regions, and urbanization status, were abstracted. Annual percent changes were computed by Joinpoint regression. From 1999 to 2023, there were 6665 AAOCA-related deaths. Overall AAMR fell insignificantly from 1.1 in 1999 to 0.9 by 2001, rose to 1.1 in 2008, declined significantly to 0.5 by 2020, and then increased to 0.8 by 2023. Male AAMRs exceeded females (1999: 1.3 vs 0.9; 2023: 1.2 vs 0.4). Racially, from 1999-2020 to 2021-2023, non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks exhibited the highest AAMR (1.8 vs 1.5), trailed by NH Whites (0.8 vs 0.6) and Hispanics (0.5 vs 0.6). Regionally, AAMRs from 1999 to 2020 were 0.9 in the Northeast, Midwest, and South, and 0.8 in the West. Moreover, both urban and rural AAMRs were 0.9. Among age groups, <44 years mortality declined, with the steepest drop in 15-44 years, while mortality for >45 years plateaued. Although AAOCA mortality declined overall, especially in children and young adults, it remains high among men, NH Blacks, and Midwest residents. Its recent rebound underscores the need for early detection, risk stratification, and surveillance for timely interventions.
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