Variations in Cancer with Heart Failure Related Mortality in the United States from 1999-2020

Abstract

Background: Cancer and heart failure (HF) are significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Moreover, there is increasing evidence of a relationship between HF and cancer. Although oncology has experienced significant advancements in cancer therapies, patients with a combination of these conditions represent an important clinical challenge due to varying outcomes among different demographic populations. Therefore, understanding these trends is crucial for targeted interventions. Aims: This study analyzed two decades of mortality data to examine the trends, patterns, and disparities in cancer-related and cancer with HF-related deaths across the United States (US). Methods: Mortality data from 1999 to 2020 were obtained using CDC WONDER, identifying cancer and cancer with HF-related deaths in adults age ≥25 years via ICD-10 codes. Demographic and regional distributions of mortality were analyzed utilizing statistical methods. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to determine trends in age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) and annual percentage changes (APC). Results: Between 1999 and 2020, there were 13,880,876 cancer-related deaths in the US, including 567,657 with HF listed as a cause of death. The AAMR for cancer-related deaths decreased from 343.7 to 252.4 per 100,000 (APC: −1.61% [95% CI: −1.70, −1.57] from 1999 to 2018, then −0.62% to 2020). Cancer with HF-related deaths initially declined (AAMR: 15.0 to 10.2 from 1999–2013) but increased from 2013 to 2020 (APC: +6.03%). Males had higher mortality rates than females for both conditions. Cancer-related mortality was highest among non-Hispanic (NH) Whites and Hispanics, while cancer with HF-related mortality was highest among NH Whites and NH American Indians/Alaska Natives. Geographically, the South had the most cancer-related deaths (37.3%), while the Midwest led in cancer with HF-related deaths (4.5%). Conclusions: Cancer-related mortality has declined overall, whereas mortality for cancer with co-existing heart failure has risen since 2013 after an initial decline. Disparities persist, with the highest burden in NH Whites, males, and those in rural or underserved areas. The findings underscore the need for focused interventions aimed at reducing mortality related to cancer and cancer with heart failure, particularly among the vulnerable population.