The American Heart Association (AHA) reported on a recent Journal of the American Heart Association study detailing changes in heart disease death trends, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
Key findings:
· Deaths from heart attacks have significantly declined (~90%) in the past 50 years, while the “age-adjusted death rate from all other types of heart disease (including heart failure, hypertensive heart disease and arrhythmia) increased by 81%.”
· 31% of deaths in the U.S. in the past 52 years are attributable to heart disease.
The authors highlighted certain medical advancements that may be causing these changes like the introduction of the coronary artery bypass, advanced cardiac imaging, new prevention therapies/measures, and diagnostic strategies. They also pointed out measures taken by the public like actions to reduce smoking, promoting exercise, and “updated practice guidelines that support improved blood pressure and cholesterol management, have driven much of the improvements.”
The authors warn, however, that “there has been a substantial rise in many CVD risk factors, such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and physical inactivity, in the United States.”
