ATLANTA — Heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally. However, a new study reveals a significant decline in heart disease death rates among American adults aged 25 and older over the past five decades, dropping by 66%. Even more striking, deaths from heart attacks have plummeted 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,” she added.
Rising Threats from Other Heart Conditions
While the decline in heart attack fatalities is a positive development, the study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlights a concerning rise in deaths from other types of heart disease. Conditions such as arrhythmia, heart failure, and hypertensive heart disease have seen an 81% increase in the United States.
Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, emphasized the importance of understanding 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.
“It’s one thing to be alive; it’s another to be alive and well,” Freeman said.
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, a figure that decreased to 29% by 2022. However, deaths from atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, once rare, increased by 450% to account for about 4% of all heart disease deaths.
Deaths from heart failure increased 146%, while those due to persistent high blood pressure rose by 106% over the same period.
According to the study, changes in cardiovascular risk factors have contributed to the rise in certain heart diseases. Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, poor diet, and physical inactivity have all surged over the past 50 years. Obesity prevalence increased from 15% in 1970 to 40% in 2022, while nearly half of all U.S. adults now face Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. High blood pressure prevalence grew from 30% in 1978 to nearly 50% in 2022.
The Impact of an Aging Population
Another factor contributing to the increase in heart disease is the aging baby boomer population, now reaching an age where heart disease is more likely to develop. “All of these risk factors contribute to an ongoing burden of heart disease, especially as related to heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, and arrhythmias,” noted Dr. Latha Palaniappan, senior study author and professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.
“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.”
Looking Forward: Prevention and Wellness
The findings underscore the need for a renewed focus on prevention and wellness. As society grapples with these rising cardiovascular risks, experts stress the importance of lifestyle changes and early intervention. Encouraging healthy eating, regular exercise, and routine health screenings can play a crucial role in mitigating these risks.
As the medical community continues to advance in treating heart disease, the emphasis on prevention and maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes ever more critical. The study serves as a reminder that while significant progress has been made in reducing heart attack deaths, the battle against heart disease is far from over.
