Trends in mortality rates by subtypes of heart disease in Mississippi, 1980-2013

Background: Heart disease (HD) is the leading cause of death among Mississippians. However, trends in mortality rates for HD subtypes in Mississippi have not been adequately described. This study examined trends in mortality rates for HD subtypes among adults in Mississippi from 1980 through 2013. Methods: We used Mississippi Vital Statistics data to calculate age-specific mortality rates for HD subtypes for Mississippians age 35 and older. Cases were identified via underlying cause of death codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and Tenth Revision (ICD-10). We used Joinpoint software to calculate the average annual percent change (AAPC) in mortality rates for HD subtypes by race, sex, and age group. Results: Overall, the age-adjusted coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rate among Mississippi adults decreased by 62.7% between 1980 and 2013, with an AAPC of -3.0% (95% CI -3.7 to -2.3), while the age-adjusted heart failure mortality rate increased by 66.7%, with an AAPC of 1.4% (95% CI 0.5 to 2.3). Trends varied across HD subtypes: Annual rates of hypertensive HD mortality increased significantly for men, for individuals age 35 to 54, and for individuals age 75 and older. CHD mortality experienced a significant annual decrease among all race, sex, and age subgroups, while heart failure increased significantly among women, whites, and individuals age 75 and older. Conclusions: From 1980 to 2013, CHD mortality decreased significantly while heart failure mortality increased significantly among adult Mississippians. However, HD subtype trends differed by race, sex, and age group.