Improvements in Infant Mortality From Congenital Cardiovascular Abnormalities Differ by Race in Wisconsin and the US, 1995-2022.

BACKGROUND

Infant mortality from congenital cardiovascular defects (CCDs) is the leading cause of death among individuals with birth defects.

METHODS

A descriptive analysis of infant mortality due to CCDs in Wisconsin and the United States was performed using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging ONline Database for Epidemiological Research (WONDER) from 1995 to 2022.

RESULTS

Congenital cardiovascular defect-related infant mortality (CCDIM) declined during this period in the United States (P < .0001) and in Wisconsin (P = .024). In the United States, African American and American Indian or Alaska Native populations experienced higher rates than Asian or White populations. In Wisconsin, non-White populations experienced higher CCDIM rates than White populations.

DISCUSSION: CCDIM in Wisconsin has declined over time. However, an excess of CCDIM in non-White populations persists compared with White populations. Because many risk factors for CCDIM are related to behavioral, environmental, and socioeconomic factors, these observed differences may represent opportunities for targeted prevention efforts.