Study from Loma Linda Links Rising Substance Use to Increase in Cardiovascular Deaths
14 February 2024 |
A study led by a researcher from Loma Linda University Health reveals an increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths related to substance use, despite a decline in overall CVD mortality from 1999 to 2019, according to a recent article in Inland Empire Community News. Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the research indicates an annual 4% increase in substance-use-related CVD deaths during this period, with a notable acceleration to 6.2% from 2012 to 2019. These findings highlight the importance of preventive measures targeting high-risk populations.
The study, carried out by Dmitry Abramov, MD, a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine, utilized data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database. It identified alcohol as the most common substance associated with CVD deaths, followed by opioids, cocaine, and other illicit drugs.
Key findings include significant increases in substance-use-related CVD deaths among women, American Indian or Alaskan Natives, younger adults (25-59 years), rural residents, and users of cannabis and psychostimulants. The research period saw a total of 636,572 deaths attributed to substance use and CVD, with a majority being men (75.6%) and non-Hispanic White individuals (70.6%). Alcohol was involved in 65% of these cases, with marked mortality rates among specific demographics, particularly in alcohol-related cases.
Abramov highlighted the consistency of the study results with clinical observations, noting the coexistence of cardiovascular disease and substance use in many patients. The study emphasizes differences in mortality rates based on gender, with women showing larger increases, and points to the need for further research on the impacts of sex, race and ethnicity, age, and geographical location on these trends.
Additionally, the research points to a rapid increase in CVD deaths associated with stimulant use, especially amphetamines, suggesting new risks beyond traditional substances like alcohol and opioids. The study acknowledges limitations, such as potential errors in death certificate coding and a lack of data on specific cardiovascular risk factors, calling for more research and public health efforts to address substance use comprehensively.
