Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains a leading cause of death globally, with obesity identified as a significant risk factor for increased incidence and poorer post-event outcomes. Understanding trends in AMI mortality among obese populations is crucial for informing public health strategies, especially in light of rising obesity rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data from the CDC WONDER database to examine AMI-related mortality among obese individuals (ICD-10 codes I21 for AMI and E66 for obesity) from 1999 to 2020. Mortality rates were assessed using crude mortality rates (CMR) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000, stratified by year, gender, race/ethnicity, state, and urban-rural status. Average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated to identify trends over the study period. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2020, there were 39,793 obesity-related AMI deaths. The AAPC for the entire period was 1.75 (95% CI: 1.06 to 2.45, p < 0.001). For men, the AAPC was 2.81, while for women, it was 1.12. Notably, African American individuals saw a significant increase in AMI mortality from 2018 to 2020 (AAPC = 19.28). Geographically, the Midwest, South, and West regions experienced upward trends, while the Northeast saw a slight decline. Smaller metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas showed consistent increases. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights an upward trend in AMI-related mortality among the obese population in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020. Targeted public health interventions are needed to address these trends, particularly in high-risk populations.