Cardiovascular Multimorbidity in Older Adults in the United States by Race and Sex
Authors' conclusion
These findings illuminate sex differences and racial disparities in cardiovascular multimorbidity progression, identifying a target for the promotion of health equity.
Study context
- Population
- Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years, US, 2010–2020
- Participants
- 2,189,633 beneficiaries
- Exposure
- Males vs females; Black vs White beneficiaries
- Outcome
- Development and progression of cardiovascular multimorbidity
Methodological detailsnationwide, 5% Medicare sample, multistate survival models, microsimulation, Median age 69 (IQR 66-78)
- Nationwide
- 5% Medicare sample
- Multistate survival models
- Microsimulation
- Median age 69 (IQR 66-78)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) development and progression to multimorbidity · median follow-up 6 years (IQR 3-9)
Adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Males vs Femaleshealthy → CVD
1.00(0.99–1.00)
Males vs Femaleshealthy → multimorbidity
1.29(1.24–1.35)
Males vs FemalesCVD → multimorbidity
1.16(1.15–1.17)
Black vs Whitehealthy → CVD
1.10(1.09–1.11)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Life table analysis
- Black adults had lower chances of progressing to worse multimorbidity states or death from a healthy state
- With increasing disease burden, Black adults more likely to die vs White adults
Original publication
Cardiovascular Multimorbidity in Older Adults in the United States by Race and Sex. JACC Adv. Published 21 October 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it