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Schears, M., Bustard, L.

Background: Racial disparities in dementia incidence, prevalence, and mortality have steadily increased over time.

Objective: Compare and contrast Caucasian and African American dementia mortality rates by time and age group in the United States.

Methods: Dementia mortality rates from 1999-2016 were compared by race and age using data from the CDC compressed mortality database.

Results: Dementia mortality rates in the United States increased for African Americans and Caucasians over the age of 65 years-old by 294% between 1999 and 2016. African Americans (50.8 deaths per 100,000) have higher reported mortality rates than Caucasians (44.2 deaths per 100,000) for individuals 65 to 74 years-old, while Caucasians have a higher overall mortality rate (428.8 per 100,000) than African Americans.

Conclusion: More refined diagnostic tools and surveillance practices should be developed to correctly diagnose dementia, administer care, and report dementia-related deaths.

July 20, 2020. 

Nacev, E., Jenkins, M. C., Lee, C. W.

Background: Opioid-related mortality in Wisconsin by race differs from national trends: in 2017, Black Wisconsinites were 87% more likely than whites to die by opioid overdose. Little attention has been paid to this disparity and the increase in mortality in the Black community.

Methods: We characterize trends in mortality due to opioid overdose in Wisconsin using CDC Wonder data for 1999-2018 by race, age, and gender. ICD-10 codes were selected per national guidelines for identifying opioid-related overdose deaths.

Results: Opioid overdose mortality increased 956% during the study period. Black populations had consistently higher risk than white populations, with an older age distribution.

Conclusion: We identify a disparity in opioid overdose mortality that has persisted over time in Wisconsin, indicating a possible gap in services.

July, 20, 2020.