Trends in atrial fibrillation-related mortality among adults under 65 years in the USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the USA, contributing to increased risks of mortality and adverse cardiovascular events. While AF is predominantly seen in older adults, over 20% of cases occur in individuals younger than 65 years.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using de-identified data from the CDC WONDER database, covering all US deaths from 1999 to 2020. AF-related deaths were identified using ICD-10 codes. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were calculated per 1 million population, standardized to the 2000 US census. Temporal trends were analyzed using Joinpoint regression models with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: From 1999 to 2020, 137,808 AF-related deaths were recorded among adults aged 15-64 years. The AAMR rose from 14.0 in 1999 to 50.5 by 2020, reflecting a 6.3% annual increase. Adults aged 45-54 years showed the highest annual increase (6.7%), followed by adults aged 35-44 years (6.6%), and adults aged 55-64 years (6.2%). Males had a higher AAMR than females (35.4 vs 16.2). Non-Hispanic Blacks had the highest AAMR among racial groups (37.4). Rural areas showed higher AAMRs than urban areas (30.3 vs 24.6). AAMR varied widely across states, with Oklahoma having the highest rate (46.7).

Conclusion: AF-related mortality among younger US adults has significantly increased in the last 2 decades. The findings highlight the shifting epidemiology of AF, with middle-aged adults showing the highest annual increases.