The Cumulative Mortality Burden of Autoimmune Neurological Diseases Among Adults in the United States (1999–2024): A 26-year National Analysis of Trends and Disparities
Syed Tasbeel Mehdi1, Fnu Urooba2, Simran Nawani3, Ritik Kumar4, Sandia Lohana3, Muhammad Sarim Azad Khan5, Sanjeet Kumar1, Tirath Patel6
1Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College Lyari, Karachi, 2CMH Multan Institute of Medical Sciences, 3Faculty of Medicine and Allied Medical Sciences, Isra University, Hyderabad, 4Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro, 5Combined Military Hospital, Lahore Medical College, Pakistan, 6School of Medicine, Trinity Medical Sciences University, Ratho Mill, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Objective:

Our study examines the cumulative mortality burden of collective autoimmune neurological diseases in U.S. adults (1999–2024), analyzing trends and disparities.

Background:

Autoimmune neurological diseases cause significant U.S. adult mortality, characterized by neuroinflammatory cascades that precipitate irreversible axonal degradation and necessitate high-precision clinical interventions.

Design/Methods:

: Using CDC WONDER database (1999–2024) for adults aged ≥25 years we analyzed age-adjusted and crude mortality rates (AAMRs and CMRs) per 100,000 through ICD-10 codes including Multiple Sclerosis (G35), Neuromyelitis Optica (G36.0), Myasthenia Gravis (G70.0), Guillain-Barré Syndrome (G61.0) and for other relevant disorders (G04.8, G36.1, G37.3, G61.1, G61.8) stratified by year, sex, race/ethnicity, place of death and geography. Joinpoint regression estimated annual and average annual percent change (APC / AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results:

Between 1999 to 2024, a total of 217,507 deaths occurred due to autoimmune neurological diseases, primarily in medical inpatient facilities (33.49%). The overall AAMR rose from 32.5 in 1999 to 40.03 in 2024, (AAPC: 0.74; p=0.05) with the sharpest increase observed between 2018 and 2021 (APC: 8.96), followed by a notable recent decline by 2024 (APC: -4.40). Women had higher AAMRs than men (39.74 vs. 33.24), however males showed a steeper mortality rise (AAPC: 0.83 vs. 0.72). Adults aged ≥65 exhibited the highest CMR (112.70) and an annual 1.98% increase. Non-Hispanic (NH) Whites had the greatest AAMR (40.70), and NH Asians (6.30) exhibited lowest. Geographically, the Midwest reported the highest AAMR (44.24) and the South the lowest (31.35). Non-metropolitan mortality exceeded metropolitan rates (AAMR: 37.08 vs. 35.15). Montana (56.08) and Oregon (67.00) ranked highest, falling within the 90th percentile during 1999–2020 and 2021–2024, respectively.

Conclusions:

Mortality related to autoimmune neurological diseases has increased over the past two decades, disproportionately affecting women, NH White individuals, and residents of the Midwest and non-metropolitan areas, necessitating targeted strategies and equitable healthcare access.

 

Generative AI Usage
No, did not use generative AI in the drafting or editing in this abstract.
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