National Trends in Cerebrovascular Disease–Related Mortality among Adults With Obesity in the United States, 1999–2020

BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death, with obesity exacerbating stroke risk through multiple metabolic pathways. However, long-term trends in CVD-related mortality among obese adults in the United States remain inadequately defined. METHODS: We analyzed national mortality data from 1999 to 2020 using the CDC WONDER database. Deaths were included if CVD (ICD-10 I60-I69) was the underlying cause and obesity (E66) a contributing cause. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) were calculated, and temporal trends were evaluated using Joinpoint regression to estimate annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC). RESULTS: From 1999 to 2020, 26,410 CVD-related deaths occurred among obese adults. The overall AAMR was 0.53 per 100,000, with an AAPC of 4.59% (95% CI: 3.94 to 5.24). A statistically significant change in trend slope was observed after 2008, with accelerated mortality increases. Females had higher AAMRs (0.56) than males (0.49), though males experienced steeper increases (AAPC 5.98% vs. 3.64%). American Indian/Alaska Native and Black adults had the highest AAMRs (1.11 and 1.01, respectively). Mortality increased in all racial/ethnic groups, most rapidly among White individuals (AAPC 4.66%). Non-metropolitan areas showed higher mortality than metropolitan areas (0.71 vs. 0.50), with a widening urban-rural gap. Regionally, the West and Midwest had the highest AAMRs (0.59 and 0.57, respectively). Mortality rose across all age groups, with the steepest increases in younger adults aged 25-54 years. Most deaths occurred in hospitals (56%), followed by home (22.8%) and nursing facilities (15.7%). CONCLUSIONS: CVD-related mortality among obese adults has increased significantly since 1999, with substantial disparities across sex, race, geography, and age, highlighting the need for focused public health strategies.