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Increased Cardiovascular Disease Rates In United States by 2050

• By Rich Health News Desk
• December 03, 2024

The top cause of mortality and disability in the US is cardiovascular disease, and new predictions indicate that over the next 30 years, the condition may become even more prevalent.

 

 According to an estimate published by the American Heart Association, by 2050, more than six out of ten persons in the United States (61%) will suffer from a cardiovascular disease (CVD). 

 

This is primarily due to the estimated 184 million individuals who have high blood pressure, or hypertension, which is predicted to rise from 51.2% in 2020 to 61% in 2025.

 

"Clinically, cardiovascular disease is identified as a number of specific conditions, including coronary heart disease (including heart attack), arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation), valvular disease, congenital heart disease, heart failure, stroke and hypertension," according to the report. "However, high blood pressure is also known as a major risk factor contributing to both heart disease and stroke."

 

Where else do you anticipate increases?

 

Over the same period, the total number of CVD diagnoses—which includes those for stroke but excludes high blood pressure—will rise from 11.3% to 15%, or from 28 million to 45 million persons.

 

According to the report, there would be a significant increase in stroke specifically, with a surge from 3.9% to 6.4% and a "total prevalence number nearly doubling from 10 million to almost 20 million adults."

 

Heart failure (from 2.7% to 3.8%) and coronary heart disease (from 7.8% to 9.2%) were also expected to increase.

 

Furthermore, although diagnoses for high cholesterol are expected to fall, diagnoses for other risk factors, such as diabetes and obesity, are expected to rise as well—from 16.3% to 26.8% and 43.1% to 60.6%, respectively. 

 

The study discovered that prevalence differs by racial and ethnic groupings. For instance, Asian and Hispanic populations saw the largest increases in the overall expected numbers of adults with CVD and unhealthy behaviors, while Black individuals are predicted to have the greatest rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

 

According to the paper, "individual, structural, and systemic racism, as well as socioeconomic factors and access to care" are to blame for these inequities.