A new study published in the journal Circulation has shown that heart disease remains the leading cause of death both in the U.S. and globally, with risk factors continuing to rise.
The statistical report, which is compiled annually through the American Heart Association in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, gives details on heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors. Risk factors can include both behaviors, such as smoking, and measured health factors, such as cholesterol and blood pressure. Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. and globally for many years, and this report gives annual updates on both prevalence and risk factors. This report, published in 2025, reports data from 2022, which is the most recent year for which data is available.
According to the report, the number of deaths related to cardiovascular disease in the U.S. leveled out in 2022 after a sharp rise due to COVID-19. However, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors were still very high, with cardiovascular risk factors projected to rise even further in the future. According to the report, almost 47% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, about 72% have an unhealthy weight, almost 42% have obesity, and 57% have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. With these risk factors projected to rise even further in the coming decades, increased deaths due to cardiovascular disease are very likely. However, some risk factors, such as smoking and high cholesterol, have steadily declined in recent years.
Writers and researchers working with the American Heart Association noted that both the prevalence of and costs associated with cardiovascular disease are likely to rise dramatically if certain trends aren’t reversed. For example, excess weight is a major risk factor for heart disease, and having excess weight may lower life expectancy by up to 2.4 years compared to having a healthy weight. To reverse trends in heart disease, key behaviors include regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and monitoring and addressing health factors like blood pressure and cholesterol.
Sources: Circulation, Science Daily
