ATLANTA — Heart disease has long held the title as the leading cause of death worldwide. However, a new study reveals a dramatic decline in heart disease death rates among American adults aged 25 and older, showing a 66% decrease over the past five decades. Even more striking, deaths from heart attacks have dropped by nearly 90%.
“Over the past 50 years, our understanding of heart disease, what causes it, and how we treat it has evolved considerably,” said Dr. Sara King, lead study author and a second-year internal medicine resident at Stanford University School of Medicine. “There have been great strides made in helping people survive initial acute cardiac events that were once considered a death sentence,” King added in a statement.
However, this positive trend comes with a concerning counterpart. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, indicates an 81% increase in deaths from other types of heart disease, such as arrhythmia, heart failure, and hypertensive heart disease in the United States.
Understanding the Numbers
Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, emphasizes the importance of contextualizing these statistics. “These days, the likelihood of dying from a heart attack is relatively low compared to where it’s been, but the likelihood of significant disability from the heart attack is still high,” Freeman, who was not involved in the study, explained.
“You might develop heart failure — where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs and you’re always short of breath,” he said. “Or maybe you’re on a number of medications for blood pressure, fluid retention, and cholesterol, or you never feel your best. It’s one thing to be alive; it’s another to be alive and well,” Freeman concluded.
Cardiovascular Risks on the Rise
The study analyzed government data on heart disease deaths from 1970 to 2022. In 1970, heart attacks accounted for 54% of all heart-related deaths. By 2022, that figure had decreased to 29%.
Deaths from atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias increased by 450% by 2022, comprising about 4% of all heart disease deaths.
Similarly, deaths from heart failure rose by 146%, while deaths due to persistent high blood pressure increased by 106% over the same period.
Contributing Factors
Changes in cardiovascular risk factors are significantly contributing to the rise in certain types of heart disease. The study highlights the surge in obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, poor dietary choices, and physical inactivity over the past 50 years. Obesity prevalence increased from 15% in 1970 to 40% in 2022. Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes now affect nearly half of all U.S. adults. High blood pressure prevalence rose from 30% in 1978 to nearly 50% in 2022.
Another factor is the aging baby boomer population, now reaching an age where they are more susceptible to developing heart disease.
“All of these risk factors contribute to an ongoing burden of heart disease, especially as related to heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, and arrhythmias,” said Dr. Latha Palaniappan, senior study author and professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University.
Looking Forward: Prevention and Wellness
“Heart disease hasn’t gone away,” Palaniappan stated. “The focus now must be on helping people age with strong, healthy hearts by preventing events, and prevention can start as early as childhood.”
As the landscape of cardiovascular health shifts, the medical community faces the challenge of addressing these emerging threats. The emphasis on prevention and wellness is crucial in mitigating the effects of rising risk factors and ensuring that individuals not only live longer but also maintain a high quality of life.
With continued research and public health initiatives, the hope is to build on the successes of the past five decades and further reduce the burden of heart disease in all its forms.
