Millions of lives are lost prematurely to heart disease each year, despite the possibility of a world without cardiovascular disease (CVD).
A recent report published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology presents an update on the global burden of CVD from 1990 to 2022, highlighting the need for immediate action to prevent and treat this widespread health issue.
Cardiovascular disease affects people worldwide, but regions in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East bear the highest burden of CVD mortality.
Common risk factors contributing to CVD include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, dietary habits, and air pollution.
The study emphasizes the urgency for countries to implement public-health strategies aimed at preventing cardiovascular diseases.
It calls for the dissemination of information and the establishment of health programs, particularly in hard-to-reach regions.
Cardiovascular diseases lead to preventable and premature deaths on a significant scale. However, there are cost-effective treatments available, and known risk factors can be identified and managed.
Simple lifestyle choices can also play a crucial role in improving heart health. This report provides detailed information on the current status of efforts to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases globally.
The study examined 18 cardiovascular conditions and 15 leading risk factors for CVD, including environmental (air pollution, household air pollution, lead exposure, temperature), metabolic (systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, kidney function), and behavioral (diet, smoking, secondhand smoke, alcohol use, physical activity) factors.
Key findings from the report include:
Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of global CVD mortality, with high blood pressure and dietary risks following closely.
High systolic blood pressure is a significant contributor to CVD-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally.
Dietary risks are the leading contributor to CVD-related DALYs among behavioral risks, while air pollution leads among environmental risks.
Between 2015 and 2022, age-standardized CVD mortality increased in 27 out of 204 locations.
Global CVD death counts increased from 12.4 million in 1990 to 19.8 million in 2022, primarily due to population growth, aging, and preventable risk factors.
Eastern Europe had the highest age-standardized total CVD mortality, while Australasia had the lowest.
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East had the highest age-standardized mortality rates attributable to high systolic blood pressure.
The report underscores the need for collaborative efforts to prevent and control modifiable risk factors for heart disease.
Sustainable strategies that involve communities are essential for reducing the global burden of CVD. Local data should inform local-level actions to promote heart-healthy communities.
The Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases Collaboration, launched in 2020, is a partnership between the Journals of the American College of Cardiology, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
The 2023 publication provides insights into the leading global risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, their impact on disease burden, and recent advancements in prevention. It serves as a valuable resource for addressing this pressing global health challenge.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and scientists find how COVID-19 damages the heart.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about Aspirin linked to higher risk of heart failure, and results showing this drug could reduce heart disease, fatty liver, obesity.
The research findings can be found in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
