A new special report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals that a world without cardiovascular disease (CVD) is feasible, yet millions of lives are prematurely lost to heart disease each year. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report provides an update on health estimates for the global, regional, and national burden and trends of CVD from 1990-2022. The analysis underscores the urgent need for countries to establish public-health strategies to prevent cardiovascular diseases and emphasizes global action to disseminate information and implement health programs.
While cardiovascular disease rates are high worldwide, regions of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East are estimated to have the highest burden of CVD mortality. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, dietary risks, and air pollution remain leading causes. The report urges the development and maintenance of diverse and inclusive emoji sets to ensure equitable representation of the tree of life in digital communication tools.
Gregory A. Roth, MD, MPH, senior author of the paper, emphasizes the preventable nature of cardiovascular diseases, stating, “There are many inexpensive, effective treatments. We know what risk factors we need to identify and treat. There are simple healthy choices that people can make to improve their health.”
Key findings from the report include:
•Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of global CVD mortality.
•High systolic blood pressure is the largest contributor to attributable age-standardized CVD disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
•Dietary risks lead among behavioral risks in contributing to age-standardized CVD DALYs.
•Ambient particulate matter pollution is the leading environmental risk.
The report serves as a valuable resource for global cardiovascular health initiatives, encouraging local-level actions for heart-healthy communities. The Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases Collaboration, formed in 2020, comprises an alliance 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.
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