Temporal and geographic disparities in mortality related to toxicity, adverse effects, and underdosing of anaesthetics in the United States: A CDC WONDER analysis.

Abstract

Background and aims: Mortality attributed to anaesthetics and therapeutic gases is a public health concern. Recognition of this issue has increased over the years, yet research is limited. This study aimed to explore the trends and geographical differences in the United States.

Methods: Deaths attributed to toxicity, adverse effects, and underdosing of anaesthetics were traced from 1999 to 2022 using the data available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) website. The data were analysed according to gender, age, race, and geographic region.

Results: Between 1999 and 2022, there were 10,157 anaesthesia-related deaths. The age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) increased from 0.1 to 0.4 from 1999 to 2022. AAMR stayed the same from 1999 to 2014, that is, 0.1 [annual percent change (APC) -0.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.9 to 3.4] and increased from 2014 to 2020 to 0.4 (APC: 27.28; 95% CI: 20.8 to 49.4) and from 2020 to 2022 at 0.42 (APC: 3.54; 95% CI: -4.6 to 17.1). Among Hispanics/Latinos, mortality decreased before having a sharp increase after 2019 (AAMR 0.09, 95% CI: 0.07-0.13). Non-Hispanics (NHs) showed a similar pattern, with a notable increase seen after 2016 (Overall AAMR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.13-0.16). The northeast region exhibited an AAMR of 0.21 (0.18-0.25), 95% CI.

Conclusion: Following a period of decline, mortality has increased in the United States since 2014. AAMRs were high among males, NHs, and residents of the Northeast region. The study highlights the increasing mortality along with the presence of disparities among gender, race, and region.