Trends in Population-Level Mortality Rates for Deaths With Both Alzheimer's Disease and Cancer Recorded on Death Certificates Among U.S. Adults Aged ≥ 65 Years, 1999-2023.

Aim: To examine temporal trends and demographic and geographic variation in population-level rates of deaths with both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cancer recorded on death certificates among U.S. adults aged ≥ 65 years from 1999 to 2023.

Design: A population-based descriptive time-trend study using multiple-cause-of-death data.

Data sources: National mortality data from the CDC WONDER (1999-2023).

Review methods: Death certificates for U.S. residents aged ≥ 65 years recording both AD (G30) and malignant neoplasms (C00-C97) were included. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) were standardized to the 2000 U.S. population; age-group analyses used age-specific crude mortality rates. Joinpoint regression estimated annual percent changes (APCs) and average annual percent changes (AAPCs), with analyses stratified by demographic and geographic characteristics.

Results: Annual deaths increased from 4764 in 1999 to 6240 in 2023, while the overall AAMR declined from 13.96 to 12.05 per 100,000 (AAPC -0.73%, 95% CI -1.39 to -0.06). Significant declines occurred among males, adults aged 75 -84 years, non-Hispanic Black populations, and residents of the Northeast and Midwest, whereas a significant increase occurred among Hispanic populations. Full-period trends among females and non-Hispanic Other populations were not statistically significant. Neither metropolitan nor nonmetropolitan areas showed a significant trend during 1999-2020.

Conclusion: The overall age-adjusted death-certificate mortality rate declined modestly despite increasing annual death counts, with descriptive variation across demographic and geographic groups.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care: The findings highlight the relevance of coordinated geriatric and oncology nursing assessment and care planning for older adults with complex health needs. Nurses may play an important role in identifying cognitive, functional, treatment-related, and caregiver needs and facilitating multidisciplinary care. These descriptive findings identify areas for clinical attention but do not demonstrate the effectiveness of specific nursing interventions. WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: Limited evidence exists on long-term population-level trends in deaths with both AD and cancer recorded on death certificates. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: The overall age-adjusted mortality rate declined modestly while annual death counts increased. Subgroup-specific trends varied, but no formal between-group comparisons were performed. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE AN IMPACT?: The findings are relevant to clinicians, policymakers, and public health practitioners involved in the care of older adults with multimorbidity, particularly in underserved populations.