Rising Mortality Burden of Atrial Fibrillation and Parkinson’s Disease among Adults in the United States: A 24-year National Trend Analysis, 2000-2023
Wajeeh Hassan1, Javeria Javeid2, FNU Kalpina3, Areej Javeid1, Tabia Shujaat3, Laiba Jabeen3, Dinesh Kumar3, Bareera Wajahat1, syed hashim ali inam4, usman faisal5
1Allama Iqbal Medical College, Jinnah Hospital, 2University of Florida, Department of Neurology, NCC, 3Dow University of Health Sciences, 4Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, 5CMH Medical College, Lahore Pakistan
Objective:
To investigate trends and demographic patterns of atrial fibrillation-related Parkinson's disease deaths among U.S. adults aged ≥ 45 from 2000 to 2023.
Background:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in older adults, yet its rising toll among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains underrecognized. As neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases increasingly intersect in aging populations, the burden of AF in PD patients demands urgent attention.
Design/Methods:
We extracted 2000-2023 CDC WONDER multiple cause-of-death data for adults ≥45 years with atrial fibrillation (ICD-10 I48) and PD (ICD-10 G20). We computed crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 using the 2000 U.S. standard population. Joinpoint Regression was used to calculate annual percent changes (APC) with 95% CIs (p≤0.05), stratified by year, sex, race, region, and urbanization.
Results:
A total of 53,631 AF-related PD deaths were recorded. The overall AAMR increased from 0.60 in 2000 to 0.95 in 2015 [APC 3.04* (95% CI 2.26–3.82)] and surged to 1.69 in 2021 [APC 10.8* (7.82–13.9)], followed by a slight decline to 1.61 in 2023 [APC -3.05 (-12.8–7.77)]. Males exhibited higher AAMRs than females (1.55 vs 0.60). Trends rose significantly in both sexes [AAPC Men 4.07* (2.78–5.38); Women 4.26* (3.25–5.28)]. Non-Hispanic Whites had the highest AAMR (1.11), followed by Hispanics (0.49), NH Asians (0.43), and NH Blacks (0.30). The West recorded the highest regional AAMR (1.08), with rural areas exceeding urban (0.97 vs 0.88). Vermont and Nevada represented the highest and lowest state rates (1.52 vs 0.40). Adults ≥85 years had the greatest mortality burden (crude rate 16.79).
Conclusions:
AF-related mortality in Parkinson’s disease has increased over two decades, particularly among older, male, NH White, rural, and Western U.S. populations. Targeted prevention and multidisciplinary management are needed to mitigate this growing dual-disease burden.
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