The Heavy Heart: Trends of Obesity-Related Cardiac Tachyarrhythmia Deaths in the United States

Authors

Yong Hao Yeo, Corewell Health East Resident
Ghee K. Lim
Boon Jian Lee
Min Choon Tan
Richard Bloomingdale, Corewell Health East
Komandoor S. Srivathsan
Luis R P Scott
Dan Sorajja
Justin Zon-Ern Lee

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

4-1-2025

Publication Title

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Abstract

Background: Obesity raises the risk of cardiac tachyarrhythmias. Despite innovations in arrhythmia and obesity treatments, population-level data on current trends in obesity-related cardiac tachyarrhythmia deaths remain scarce. Methods: We queried the CDC WONDER database for patients >age 25 (2001-2020). Cardiac arrest, AF, and ventricular arrhythmias (VA) were identified as underlying causes of death, with obesity contributing. We calculated age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 1,000,000 and assessed trends using annual percent change (APC) estimates from Joinpoint regression. Results: In 20 years, there were 4,103 obesity-related cardiac tachyarrhythmias deaths (3,174 [77.4%] AF, 511 [12.5%] cardiac arrest, 418 [10.1%] VA). The overall AAMR increased from 0.41 in 2001 to 1.75 in 2020 (APC +7.8%). The increase in death rates from cardiac tachyarrhythmias was significantly higher in obese patients than in non-obese patients (535.5% vs. 62.4%). Males had a higher AAMR than females (0.99 vs. 0.83). Non-Hispanic (NH) Whites had the highest AAMR (1.03), followed by NH Blacks (0.97), NH American Indians (0.92), Hispanics (0.39), and NH Asians (0.16). The Midwest region had the highest AAMR (1.12). AAMR in rural regions was higher than in urban areas (1.31 vs. 0.83). Conclusion: Our study found a rising trend in cardiac tachyarrhythmia deaths related to obesity. With significant demographic discrepancies, targeted healthcare policies are imperative to meet the specific needs of this population.

Volume

85

Issue

12 Suppl

First Page

199

Comments

American College of Cardiology Meeting, March 29-31, 2025, Chicago, IL

Last Page

199

Recommended Citation

Yeo YH, Lim GK, San BJ, Tan MC, Bloomingdale R, Srivathsan KS, et al. The heavy heart: trends of obesity-related cardiac tachyarrhythmia deaths in the United States. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2025 Apr 1;85(12 Suppl):199. doi:10.1016/S0735-1097(25)00684-9

DOI

10.1016/S0735-1097(25)00684-9