Trends in Mortality Related to Acute Renal Failure in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020: A CDC-WONDER Retrospective Analysis

Background Acute renal failure (ARF) indicates a sudden deterioration in renal function. This study analyzes mortality trends related to ARF in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020 to identify disparities. Methods We extracted the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 population were calculated for variables: year, gender, race and geographic regions. Annual percent changes (APCs) were analyzed using Joinpoint regression software. Results From 1999 to 2020, 1,174,156 deaths were reported for ARF-related fatalities in the U.S. Overall AAMR increased from 1999 (17.55, 95% CI 17.36 to 17.75) to 2010 (28.34,95% CI 28.2 to 28.6) with an APC of 4.44 (95% CI 4.17 to 4.7) followed by a decrease from 2010 to 2018 (24.51, 95% CI 24.32 to 24.71) and then an increase till 2020 (30.84,95% CI 30.62 to 31.05) with an APC of 11.85 (95% CI 7.9 to 14.87). AAMR remained higher in males (30.82) than in females (20.31). Blacks (33.68) had the highest mortality rates, while Asian/Pacific Islanders had lower (16.38). Upon stratification by geographical distribution, the highest AAMR was in the South (26.37). The highest AAMR was observed in Texas and Indiana, with mortality rates being twice as high as states at the lower end of the spectrum, including Alaska, Arizona, and Florida. Conclusion High ARF-related mortality rates warrant the need for targeted public health initiatives to address these issues and provide healthcare access that can influence ARF-related outcomes.