The overlapping burden of atrial fibrillation and lung cancer: Insights from U.S. mortality data from 1999 to 2023.

Abstract

e20672 Background: Both lung cancer and atrial fibrillation (AF) are significant causes of morbidity and death in the US, especially in older populations. AF is increasingly associated with poor outcomes in lung cancer patients due to shared risk factors, chronic inflammation, and the cardiotoxic effects of cancer treatments. However, there is still a dearth of national-level information on long-term mortality patterns and demographic differences associated with this overlap. Methods: The U.S. death certificates from CDC WONDER (1999–2023) were analyzed retrospectively. If both AF and lung cancer were identified as underlying or contributory causes, the deaths were counted. We stratified age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) by census area, sex, race/ethnicity, and urban/rural status. Annual percentage changes (APCs) along with their 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated. And for this purpose, Joinpoint regression program was used. Results: Atrial fibrillation and Lung Cancer were responsible for 101,689 fatalities occurred among adults aged 25 years and older from 1999 to 2023 in the U.S. The information for the location of death was available for 97,739 deaths. Among the total deaths, 42.54% occurred in medical facilities, 31.43% occurred at home. The AAMRs of men were consistently higher than those of women (3.34 vs. 1.96 in 2023). Mortality was greater among non-Hispanics than among Hispanics (AAMR: 2.73 vs. 0.90 in 2023). From 1.08 in 1999 to 3.07 in 2020, the AAMRs of rural people were consistently higher than those of urban groups. Regional variation was marked, with the South showing the highest mortality in 2023 (2.83), followed by the Midwest (2.73), West (2.31), and Northeast (2.17). Conclusions: Lung cancer mortality from AF has gone up, with greater rates in the South, non-Hispanics, men, and rural areas. To overcome these discrepancies, targeted cardio-oncology therapies are required.