New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals that cardiovascular disease deaths involving substance use in the United States increased by an average of 4% per year from 1999 to 2019. This is despite an overall drop in cardiovascular disease deaths during the same period.
The study, conducted by researchers at Loma Linda University Health in California, analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database. The database collects death certificate data from across the U.S.
The findings showed that the rate of substance use-related cardiovascular deaths increased from 9.9 per 100,000 population in 1999 to 21.4 per 100,000 population in 2019, representing an average annual increase of 4%. The study also highlighted prominent increases in cardiovascular deaths associated with substance use among specific groups, including women, American Indian or Alaskan individuals, younger individuals, rural area residents, and users of cannabis and psychostimulants.
Dr. Dmitry Abramov, the senior author of the study, commented on the results, saying, "Although alcohol and opioids were the substances most associated with cardiovascular deaths, the increases in cardiovascular deaths related to stimulants (predominantly amphetamines) during the study period were particularly prominent. This highlights both the ongoing risk of common substances, including alcohol and opioids, and also demonstrates the need to tackle amphetamines as a substance whose contribution to CVD deaths is growing more rapidly."
The study also revealed that 65% of cardiovascular disease deaths were related to alcohol, followed by opioids (13.7%), cocaine (9.8%), stimulants (6.5%), sedatives (4.1%), and cannabis (0.5%). Furthermore, the highest rate of change was noted among adults ages 25-39, followed by adults ages 55-69.
The researchers emphasized the importance of identifying high-risk groups in order to prioritize preventive measures to reduce substance use-related cardiovascular disease deaths. Dr. Abramov stated, "We were surprised to see significant increases among individuals ages 25 to 39, compared to other age groups and among people in certain racial and ethnic groups, including white adults and American Indian/Alaska Native adults. Identifying high-risk groups will be crucial for prioritizing preventive measures to reduce substance use-related cardiovascular disease deaths."
The study also acknowledged that additional research is needed to understand the sex-based differences, as well as differences by race, ethnicity, age, and urban or rural community, in substance use-related cardiovascular disease deaths.
While the study had some limitations, such as potential miscoding errors on death certificates and lack of information on cardiovascular disease risk factors, the findings highlight the need for comprehensive evaluation and management of substance use in the U.S. Public health efforts should focus on clinician and patient education, as well as addressing socioeconomic factors that contribute to substance use.
In conclusion, the rising trend of cardiovascular disease deaths linked with substance use in the U.S. is a cause for concern. Efforts to address this issue should prioritize high-risk groups and implement preventive measures to reduce substance use-related cardiovascular disease deaths. By tackling this problem, we can contribute to the overall reduction of heart disease and stroke burden in the country.
To find out more, go to this link: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/u-s-heart-disease-deaths-linked-with-substance-use-rose-4-per-year-between-1999-2019
