AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract · Nov 2, 2026
Mortality Trends in Pulmonary Heart Disease Among Hematological Malignancies vs Solid Tumours in the U.S: 1999-2024
By Nofal A, Zahra A, Meraj S et al.
Background: Pulmonary heart disease (PHD) results from chronic respiratory disease and thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, leading to right ventricular enlargement; cancer increases thromboembolic risk, predisposing to PHD, particularly in gastrointestinal, lung, and hematologic malignancies. However, limited evidence compares PHD prevalence and outcomes between hematologic and solid tumors. Goal: To evaluate and compare trends in mortality rates attributable to PHD in patients with hematological malignancies (HM) versus solid tumors stratified by age, sex, and race in the U.S. Methodology: The CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death database (1999-2024) was used to compare mortality trends in hematological malignancies (C81-C96) and solid tumors (C00-C80, C97) in adults (>=25 years). Data were stratified by year, sex, race, and age group. Crude mortality rates (CMRs) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 were calculated, and temporal trends were analyzed using Joinpoint regression to estimate annual percentage changes (APCs) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Total deaths associated with PHD and solid tumors were 227,445; lung cancer accounted for 76,894 deaths, whereas deaths associated with HM and PHD were 26,926. Overall AAMRs from 1999 to 2024 increased from 0.4 to 0.6 for PHD and HM, whereas for solid tumors they increased from 3.57 to 6.23, including lung cancer (1.01 to 1.59). From 1999 to 2024, AAMRs in females with HM increased from 0.29 to 0.51, while in males they increased from 0.48 to 0.8 in 2021 before decreasing to 0.7 in 2024. In solid tumors, males showed a consistent rise in AAMR (4.29 to 6.5) compared with females (3.1 to 6.07). In solid tumors, Black individuals had a greater rise in AAMR than White individuals from 1999 (5.6 vs 3.4) to 2024 (9.8 vs 6.1). In HM, Black individuals demonstrated a stable trend until 2015 followed by a sharp rise through 2024 (APC = 5.52, p = 0.0003), whereas White individuals showed an increase in AAMR from 0.39 to 0.61. CMRs increased with advancing age in both groups. The highest increase in AAMR from 1999 to 2024 occurred in the >=85-year age group in HM (1.78 to 6.34) and solid tumors (16.1 to 41.5). Conclusions: From 1999 to 2024, mortality associated with PHD significantly increased in both HM and solid tumors, disproportionately affecting males, Black individuals, and elderly patients, highlighting growing disparities and the need for targeted interventions.