Cardiovascular disease

Lore & Background

Cardiovascular disease includes a wide range of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and rheumatic heart disease. The underlying mechanisms differ; for example, atherosclerosis—caused by high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, high cholesterol, poor diet, excessive alcohol, and poor sleep—underlies coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Rheumatic heart disease may follow untreated strep throat. High blood pressure accounts for about 13% of CVD deaths, tobacco for 9%, diabetes and lack of exercise for 6% each, and obesity for 5%.

Reader's Guide

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide except Africa, with 17.9 million deaths in 2015. Its significance lies in its high preventability—up to 90%—through improving risk factors like healthy eating, exercise, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol. Treating high blood pressure, blood lipids, and diabetes, as well as using antibiotics for strep throat, can reduce risk. The disease disproportionately affects older adults, with mean age at first diagnosis around 70 in high-income countries, and men are about 50% more likely to develop CVD than women at the same age. Coronary artery disease and stroke account for 80% of CVD deaths in males and 75% in females. While rates have declined in most developed countries since the 1970s, deaths at a given age have increased in much of the developing world. The legacy of CVD research emphasizes modifiable risk factors and the importance of prevention, though the benefit of aspirin in healthy people remains unclear.

Did You Know?

• Dietary risk factors are associated with 53% of CVD deaths.
• High blood pressure accounts for approximately 13% of CVD deaths.
• Men are about 50% more likely to develop CVD than women at the same age.
• Rheumatic heart disease may follow untreated strep throat.