Summary of Study on Heart Failure-related Cardiac Arrest Mortality:
The American Journal of Cardiology. Article in press 9 March, 2025.
1. Heart Failure Statistics:
• Over 64 million adults globally and 6 million in the U.S. suffer from heart failure, with numbers expected to rise to 8 million by 2030.
• Heart failure patients are at higher risk for cardiac arrest, contributing to 30-50% of mortality in this group.
2. Cardiac Arrest Risk:
• Those with systolic dysfunction are 6-9 times more likely to experience sudden cardiac death.
• Cardiac arrest and heart failure increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial fibrosis.
3. Study Overview:
• Researchers analyzed U.S. CDC data from 1999 to 2023 on age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) for cardiac arrest in heart failure patients aged 25 and older.
4. Mortality Rate Trends:
• AAMR dropped from 25.3 per 100,000 adults in 1999 to 20.6 in 2023.
• The most significant decline occurred between 1999 and 2011, with a -2.95% annual change.
• From 2011 to 2018, the AAMR remained stable, then increased from 2018 to 2021, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A decline in AAMR resumed from 2021 to 2023 (APC: -4.05%), indicating recovery and improved healthcare access post-pandemic.
5. Disparities in Mortality Rates:
• Women showed a greater reduction in mortality (22.6 to 16.2) compared to men (29.5 to 26.2).
• Racial/ethnic disparities: Black patients had the highest AAMR (28.😎, followed by Hispanic/Latino (22.😎, white (19.5), and other racial/ethnic groups (18.1).
• Rural areas had a higher AAMR (20.9) compared to urban areas (20.1).
6. Conclusions:
• Rising mortality rates in men, Black individuals, and rural residents highlight urgent healthcare needs.
• Targeted interventions and improved healthcare access are necessary to reduce disparities and improve outcomes. https://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(25)00137-7/fulltext