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Emerging Investigator Awardee
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Poster Session

Epidemiology, Health Policy, and Outcomes

Poster Session C

Session: (1877–1913) Epidemiology & Public Health Poster III

1882: Vessels Under Fire: National Mortality Trends in Systemic Vasculitides in the United States, 1999–2020

Tuesday, October 28, 2025
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Central Time
Location: Hall F1
Graphs showing state, urbanization, gender, race, age, and year mortality from Vasculitis

    Abstract Poster Presenter(s)

  • AK

    Aziz-ur-Rahman Khalid, DO

    St. Joseph’s University Medical Center
    Wayne, New Jersey, United States

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose


Background/Purpose: Systemic vasculitides are rare but potentially life-threatening inflammatory disorders affecting blood vessels. Despite therapeutic advances, national mortality trends across vasculitis subtypes remain poorly defined. We analyzed U.S. mortality trends from 1999–2020 using CDC WONDER, focusing on 10 vasculitis-related ICD-10 codes.

Methods: CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death data (1999–2020) were queried using ICD-10 codes: D69.0 (Allergic purpura), M30.0 (Polyarteritis nodosa), M30.1 (Churg-Strauss), M30.3 (Kawasaki disease), M31.3 (Wegener granulomatosis), M31.4 (Takayasu arteritis), M31.5 (Giant cell arteritis with polymyalgia rheumatica), M31.6 (Other giant cell arteritis), M31.7 (Microscopic polyangiitis), and M35.2 (Behçet disease). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) were calculated using the 2000 U.S. standard population. Analyses were stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, urbanization, state, and place of death.

Results: A total of 11,602 vasculitis-related deaths occurred from 1999–2020. The overall AAMR was 0.15 per 100,000, declining from 0.20 in 1999 to 0.09 in 2020. The highest age-specific mortality occurred in adults ≥85 years (AAMR: 1.69), with the lowest in children 5–14 years (AAMR: 0.004). Females accounted for 56% of deaths, with AAMRs nearly equal between sexes (0.149 vs. 0.147). By race, American Indian/Alaska Native (0.165) and White (0.161) individuals had the highest AAMRs, while Black (0.068) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.070) individuals had the lowest. Hispanic individuals had an AAMR of 0.117. The highest mortality occurred in micropolitan (0.205) and noncore rural areas (0.178). Regarding place of death, 54.3% occurred in inpatient medical facilities, followed by 20.0% at home and 13.3% in nursing homes.

Conclusion: Vasculitis-related mortality in the U.S. has declined substantially since 1999. However, disparities persist among older adults, rural populations, and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals. These findings highlight the need for improved access to rheumatologic care and early detection strategies in high-risk populations.