THE LATEST American Heart Association (AHA) Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update highlights the continued burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which remains the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for 39.5% of all deaths in 2022.
The annual report, produced in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, presents the most current data on cardiovascular health, including risk factors, disease prevalence, and outcomes. This year’s update incorporates findings from approximately 3,000 new data sources, strengthening its focus on health equity and expanding global datasets. Key findings include the persistent racial disparities in CVD mortality rates, with non-Hispanic Black males experiencing the highest age-adjusted mortality rate (379.7 per 100,000) and non-Hispanic Asian females the lowest (104.9 per 100,000). The update also highlights the predictive power of the AHA Life’s Essential 8 score, where each standard deviation increase in score was linked to a 36% reduction in CVD risk (OR, 0.64). Furthermore, data from the UK Biobank suggest that individuals in the lowest cardiovascular health quartile had over twice the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (HR, 2.07), particularly heart failure.
The AHA Statistical Update is based on a comprehensive review of national and international health data, undertaken by a team of volunteer scientists, government professionals, and AHA staff. The 2025 edition features enhanced methods for data collection, integrating new insights from population studies, electronic health records, and epidemiological research. Notably, this year’s update includes the newly developed CKM (cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic) health framework, which expands upon the Life’s Essential 8 model to address the interconnected nature of heart disease, kidney function, and metabolic health. The findings also highlight the impact of environmental factors, with a large-scale study from China linking increased air pollution exposure to heightened risks of atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia within 24 hours of exposure.
The report serves as a crucial resource for clinicians, policymakers, and researchers, providing insights that inform preventive strategies and public health interventions. The findings reinforce the importance of lifestyle modification and early intervention, demonstrating that a 10-point improvement in the AHA Life’s Essential 8 score could have prevented 9.2% of major cardiovascular events. Future efforts should focus on addressing health disparities, improving screening and early detection, and integrating environmental health into cardiovascular risk assessment. By continuously refining data collection and expanding global perspectives, the AHA Statistical Update remains a cornerstone for evidence-based cardiovascular care and policy development.
Katrina Thornber, EMJ
Reference
Martin SS et al. 2024 heart disease and stroke statistics: a report of US and global data from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2024;149(8):e347-913.
