Introduction: Leukemia and ischemic heart disease (IHD) are major U.S. mortality causes. This study analyzes national mortality trends from 1999 to 2020 to assess the impact of public health efforts in leukemia-associated IHD mortality rates.Methods: This retrospective study analyzed death certificate data from the CDC-WONDER database spanning 1999 to 2020, focusing on leukemia (ICD-10: C91–C95) and ischemic heart disease (ICD-10: I20–I25) as multiple causes of mortality in the U.S. population. Crude mortality rates (CMR) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 population were calculated. JoinPoint analysis was performed to estimate annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC).Results: From 1999 to 2020, there were 53,603 deaths from combined leukemia and ischemic heart disease among U.S. adults aged 25+, with the AAMR declining from 1.39 to 1.09 per 100,000 (AAPC= -1.30%; 95% CI: -1.90 to -0.68; P= 0.000034). A significant decrease occurred from 1999 to 2018 (AAMR: 1.39 to 0.95; APC= -2.1894%; 95% CI: -2.3995 to -1.9788, P < 0.000001), followed by a period where the trend shifted upward which is statistically significant for the certain subgroups, except men and older adults. Men had higher AAMR than women (1.87 vs. 0.62). Regional AAMRs were highest in the Midwest (1.3). Non-Hispanic Whites had the highest AAMR (1.25). Adults 65+ had a CMR of 5.27 vs. 0.26 for ages 45–64.Conclusion: Significant health disparities exist, as mortality from combined leukemia and IHD is highest among men, older adults, rural populations, and non-Hispanic White individuals.
Hemida et al. (2025) studied this question.