Trends in mortality from acute myocardial infarction among the obese population in the United States from 1999 to 2020: insights from CDC WONDER

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.