Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in neurodegenerative disorders, yet differences between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) remain understudied. Variations in autonomic dysfunction, disease progression, and healthcare access may contribute to these disparities. Purpose This study utilizes CDC WONDER data to compare cardiovascular mortality in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) across overall trends, gender, race/ethnicity, region, and crude age groups. Findings can help identify high-risk populations and guide targeted prevention strategies. Methods Using CDC WONDER data, we calculated AAMRs per 1,000,000 individuals aged 65+ who died from diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) as the underlying cause (UCD) with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or Parkinson’s disease (PD) as multiple causes of death (MCD). AD-related deaths were identified using ICD-10 codes G30.0, G30.1, G30.8, and G30.9, while PD-related deaths were classified under G20, G21.0-G21.9. Data were analyzed across ten-year age groups. Joinpoint regression assessed APC and AAPC in mortality trends. Results From 1999 to 2020, age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) fell from 234.8 per million in 1999 to 116.3 in 2019, rising to 129.5 in 2020 (AAPC: -3.2, 95% CI: -3.6to -2.7). AAMR for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) dropped from 517.0 in 1999 to 234.5 in 2019, increasing to 259.1 in 2020 (AAPC: -3.4, 95% CI: -4.08 to -2.8). AAMR for AD was higher in both genders (M: 315.8, F: 379.3) than PD (M: 228.4 , F: 105.1 ). Non-Hispanic White individuals had the highest overall AAMR in both categories (PD: 162.8, AD: 367.7), while NH Black or African Americans had the overall lowest AAMR in PD (97.5) and non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islanders had the lowest overall AAMR in AD (201.2). Among census regions, West had the highest overall AAMR in PD (167.6) and AD (433) while South had the lowest overall AAMR (132.9 ) in PD and Northwest had the lowest AAMR in AD (299.36). Mortality rates rose across all age groups, peaking in the 85+ group, with most deaths in nursing homes in both groups. Conclusion Cardiovascular mortality was consistently higher in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than in Parkinson’s disease (PD) from 1999 to 2020, despite both showing an overall decline until 2019, followed by an increase in 2020. AD had higher AAMRs across genders and racial groups, with Non-Hispanic Whites and the West region showing the highest rates. Mortality peaked in the 85+ age group, with most deaths occurring in nursing homes. These differences highlight the greater cardiovascular burden in AD, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention strategies in high-risk populations.Table
Volucke et al. (Sat,) studied this question.