Mortality trends in elderly patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation: a retrospective CDC WONDER Analysis (1999–2020)

Introduction A rising trend in mortality due to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was observed in the US population. However, DIC-related mortality trends among older adults > 65 years have not been investigated before. The objective of the study was to analyze the mortality trends in elderly patients with DIC. Material and methods Death certificates from the CDC WONDER (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) database were analyzed from 1999 to 2020 for DIC-related mortality in elderly patients > 65 years of age. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 people and annual percentage change (APC) were calculated and stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic region. Results This study examines the mortality trend in older patients (> 65 years) with disseminated intravascular coagulation between 1999 and 2020. Out of the total 39,853 deaths, 93.1% occurred in medical facilities. From 6.4 to 4.0 per 100,000, the overall age-adjusted mortality (AAMR) decreased steadily until 2015, followed by a slight increase. Mortality trends varied by sex, race, and geographic region, with African Americans showing the highest AAMR and the Southern U.S. reporting the highest regional burden. The necessity for focused treatments to address racial and regional disparities in DIC-related mortality is underscored by persistent differences, even when overall trends indicate improvement. Conclusions Although DIC-related mortality decreased between 1999 and 2020, a recent upward trend has been observed. Notable disparities persist, with the Southern region and non-Hispanic African Americans experiencing the highest burden. Targeted interventions and enhanced surveillance are essential to address these inequalities and prevent further increases.