Ischemic heart disease and cerebral infarction associated mortality in the United States: A nationwide retrospective analysis of death certificate data from 1999 to 2023.

Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and cerebral infarction share risk factors and are leading cardiovascular causes of death. We analyzed national mortality trends and disparities for co-occurring IHD and cerebral infarction in older United States adults. Using the CDC WONDER database, we analyzed 1999 to 2023 death records for adults aged ≥55 listing both conditions as underlying or contributing causes. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1,00,000 and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated via Joinpoint regression. Of 1,06,423 deaths, the overall AAMR declined from 1999 to 2011 (APC: -11.42), then rose sharply through 2023 (APC: 9.64). Females comprised 50.20% of absolute deaths, but males had a higher 2023 AAMR (7.2 vs 4.9). Non-Hispanic African Americans had the highest AAMR (6.5). The West (6.0) and nonmetropolitan areas (6.0) faced the heaviest mortality burdens. Following a decade of decline, mortality for comorbid IHD and cerebral infarction increased significantly after 2011. Disparities among males, Non-Hispanic African Americans, and rural populations underscore the need for targeted healthcare interventions and equitable resource allocation.