Background: Hypertension, prevalent among one-third of US adults, significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular disease and mortality. This study seeks to analyze hypertension mortality patterns and regional disparities among adult patients in the USA.
Methods: Data was sourced from the CDC WONDER database, with hypertension identification based on ICD-10 Codes I10-13 and I15. Both crude mortality rates and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 individuals were determined. Using joinpoint regression analysis, annual percentage changes (APC) in AAMR were calculated.
Results: Between 1999 and 2020, hypertensive diseases claimed the lives of 1,479,884 individuals (AAMR: 20.2 per 100,000). An upward trajectory was observed, with the lowest AAMR in 1999 (15.8) and the highest in 2020 (29.1). Men exhibited higher AAMR (21.8) compared to women (18.4). Notably, NH Blacks displayed a remarkably high AAMR of 44.4, whereas other racial groups had similar rates. The Southern region displayed the highest AAMR (22.5), followed by the Western region (20.9). Urban areas demonstrated higher death rates (20.6) than rural areas (18.43). Almost all age-groups witnessed escalating mortality rates from hypertensive diseases, with the highest AAMR seen in individuals aged ≥85 (478.5), followed by the 74-84 age group (112.7).
Conclusions: There was a noticeable rise in hypertension mortality rates in the USA. Major risk factors included being male, residing in the South, identifying as NH Black, living in urban areas, and being aged ≥85. The high economic burden highlights the need to develop strategies to alleviate the burden of hypertensive diseases in high-risk populations.