STANFORD, CALIFORNIA – Heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, yet a new study reveals a dramatic decline in heart attack fatalities among American adults aged 25 and older. Over the past five decades, these death rates have dropped by an impressive 66%, with heart attack deaths alone plummeting by nearly 90%.
Immediate Impact
Dr. Sara King, the study’s lead author and a second-year internal medicine resident at Stanford University School of Medicine, highlighted the evolution in understanding and treating heart disease. “Over the past 50 years, our understanding of heart disease, what causes it, and how we treat it has evolved considerably,” King stated.
Despite these advancements, the study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, also reveals a concerning trend: deaths from other heart disease types, including arrhythmia, heart failure, and hypertensive heart disease, have risen by 81% in the United States.
Key Details Emerge
“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,” said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver.
Freeman, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the ongoing risks associated with heart disease. “You might develop heart failure — where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs and you’re always short of breath,” he added.
By the Numbers
The study analyzed government data on heart disease deaths from 1970 to 2022. In 1970, heart attacks accounted for 54% of all heart disease deaths. By 2022, this figure had decreased to 29%.
- Deaths from atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias increased by 450%, now representing about 4% of all heart disease deaths.
- Heart failure deaths rose by 146%.
- Deaths due to persistent high blood pressure increased by 106%.
Expert Analysis
Dr. Latha Palaniappan, senior study author and professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University, pointed to changes in cardiovascular risk factors. “Obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, poor food choices, and physical inactivity have skyrocketed over the past 50 years,” Palaniappan noted.
“Heart disease hasn’t gone away,” Palaniappan emphasized. “The focus now must be on helping people age with strong, healthy hearts by preventing events, and prevention can start as early as childhood.”
Background Context
The study attributes some of the rise in heart disease to the aging Baby Boomer population, now reaching an age where heart disease is more prevalent. Obesity prevalence has increased from 15% in 1970 to 40% in 2022, while type 2 diabetes and prediabetes now affect nearly half of all U.S. adults. High blood pressure rates have also surged from 30% in 1978 to nearly 50% in 2022.
What Comes Next
As heart disease continues to pose a significant health challenge, the emphasis is shifting towards prevention and wellness. “It’s one thing to be alive, it’s another to be alive and well,” Freeman concluded, underscoring the importance of comprehensive health strategies.
For more insights and health tips, sign up for CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter, offering a weekly roundup on living well.
