Over the past two decades, while we’ve seen a decrease in deaths from heart-related diseases, there’s been a worrying increase in deaths linked to substance use.
This information comes from a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers looked at data from 1999 to 2019, collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to understand these trends better.
The study found that deaths from heart issues related to substance use are on the rise, especially among certain groups.
Women, American Indian and Alaska Native people, young adults, people living in rural areas, and those who use cannabis and stimulants like amphetamines are particularly affected.
Alcohol seems to be a major factor, connected to 65% of these heart-related deaths. Opioids are linked to nearly 14%, cocaine to almost 10%, and stimulants to about 6.5%.
Although cannabis-related cardiovascular deaths are less than 1%, there’s been a significant increase, possibly because more states are legalizing its use or the drug is getting stronger.
Dr. Dmitry Abramov, a cardiologist and associate professor at Loma Linda University Health in California and the senior author of the study, says these findings align with what he sees in patients with heart disease.
While alcohol and opioids are the most common substances linked to these deaths, the rise in deaths related to stimulants, particularly amphetamines, is alarming.
This suggests that we need to pay attention to both common substances like alcohol and opioids and emerging threats like amphetamines.
The study also shows that adults aged 25 to 39 experienced the highest increase in death rates, followed by those aged 55 to 69.
Although men had higher rates of substance use-related heart deaths, the rate of increase was larger for women. This matches with other research indicating that substance use and overdose rates are climbing among middle-aged women.
Dr. Abramov emphasizes the importance of identifying groups at high risk to focus on preventive measures. The increase in heart-related deaths among women may be influenced by unique societal factors that need further research.
Moreover, there are differences in these trends based on race, ethnicity, age, and whether people live in urban or rural areas.
Addressing substance use in the U.S. is a public health priority. Dr. Abramov suggests focusing on the social and economic factors contributing to this problem.
Efforts to tackle these issues are essential for reversing the trend in heart disease and stroke deaths related to substance use.
The hope is that by understanding and addressing these factors, we can reduce the overall burden of heart disease and stroke.
This study highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to substance use, considering its impact not just on mental health but also on physical health, particularly heart health.
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The research findings can be found in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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