2026 American Academy of Neurology Abstract Website

Ahmed Raza¹, Syeda Takreem Fatima¹, Adel Kanaan², Abdul Raheem Malik³, Shabnam Ijaz⁴, Eman Alamgir⁵, Syed Inam⁶
¹Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, ²Joan C Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, West Virginia, USA, ³Continental Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan, ⁴Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan, ⁵University Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad, Pakistan, ⁶Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, USA.

Objective:

To investigate the mortality due to ischemic stroke and heart failure (HF) in the US from 1999 to 2019.

Background:

Ischemic stroke and HF are among the leading causes of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, sharing common risk factors. Individuals with heart failure are two to five times more likely to suffer an ischemic stroke. This study analyzes mortality trends of ischemic stroke and HF in the US.

Design/Methods:

We utilized the CDC WONDER database to analyze age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 adults (≥25) for HF and ischemic stroke from 1999 to 2019. Average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) were calculated using the Joinpoint Regression Program.

Results:

Ischemic stroke and HF caused 30,508 deaths in US adults from 1999 to 2019, with an AAMR of 3.50 (95% CI: 3.46 – 3.54) and an AAPC of -1.83% (-2.84 to -0.8), indicating a decline. Males had a greater AAMR than females (3.66 vs. 3.35), while females saw a greater decline in AAMRs than males (AAPCs: -1.75% and -1.09%, respectively). Among the racial and ethnic groups, NH Blacks had the highest AAMR (3.84), followed by NH Whites (3.57), and Hispanics or Latinos (2.61). The Hispanics or Latinos also experienced the greatest decline in AAMRs with an AAPC of -1.79%. Regionally, the Midwest had the highest AAMR (3.59), and the Northeast had the lowest (2.90). The Northeast also exhibited the highest decline in mortality (AAPC: -2.61%). Non-metropolitan areas had a greater mortality burden than metropolitan areas (AAMR: 4.18 vs. 3.34).

Conclusions:

Overall, ischemic stroke and HF mortality in the US decreased from 1999 to 2019, yet disparities persisted, with higher AAMRs in males, NH Blacks, the Midwest, and non-metropolitan areas. Targeted health policy measures are needed to mitigate these disparities.