–
By 2050, 61% of American adults will have cardiovascular disease, according to a new study by the American Heart Association. The biggest driver of this trend will be the number of people who have or develop high blood pressure, which puts them at greater risk of developing dangerous complications such as heart attack or stroke.
Other cardiovascular problems include heart failure, arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation or a-fib, heart failure and congenital heart disease.
Despite advances in medicine, heart disease remains the leading killer of Americans For many decades, Caused more than 800,000 deaths every year.
In a study published Tuesday, the association predicts that 45 million adults will have some type of cardiovascular disease, not including high blood pressure, or stroke by 2050, and 28 million by 2020.
Another force behind these trends is the aging population, as the older you are, the more likely you are to develop heart problems.
In the year By 2050, 22 percent of Americans will be over age 65, and seniors make up just 13 percent of the population 10 years ago. Studies say. The median age in the US is expected to increase from 37 in 2010 to 41 in 2050. Research shows.
America's population is also becoming more diverse, and communities of color suffer disproportionately from heart disease. In the year By 2050, people who identify as Hispanic will make up about a quarter of the U.S. population, up from about 20% today, and people who identify as black will make up 14.4% of the country, up from 13.6% today. The number of people identifying as Asian will increase from 6.2 percent to 8.6 percent. US Census Forecasts.
People who identify as Hispanic are projected to have the highest population rates for cardiovascular disease or stroke, the new study says.
Black adults are at higher risk for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, according to the association's study. It is estimated that they will face great problems. Poor diet and one Inadequate amount of sleep, both characteristics contribute to heart problems.
The largest overall increase in cardiovascular conditions According to the American Heart Association, the number of people with strokes will jump from 3.9% to 6.4%. This could double the number of adults with stroke from 10 million to 20 million between 2020 and 2050.
In terms of risk factors, an increasing number of people with obesity and/or diabetes are at risk for heart problems.
A poor diet that can affect heart health is thought to be a health behavior that affects many people. By 2050, only about 70 million adults will have enough to eat, the report said.
The new study predicts that the number of obese people will increase from 43.1% to 60.6% by 2050, affecting more than 180 million people. The report stated.
The report also provides an in-depth look at children's heart health. It found “trends” in key risk factors, including an increase in the number of children living with obesity, largely due to lack of physical activity and poor nutrition. The report says that will rise from 20.6% in 2020 to 33% in 2050, meaning 26 million children will be obese by then.
There is one positive heart health note, the researchers say: the number of people with high cholesterol is predicted to decrease. It has been falling for years. Studies showThis is due to a significant increase in the number of people taking statins, drugs that reduce the amount of cholesterol produced in the liver. A 2023 study It found that more than 92 million adults in the US — more than a third of the population — take statins. In 2018-19, it increased by 197% from 2008-09.
“Clinical and public health interventions are needed to effectively manage, prevent, and even reverse these negative trends,” the researchers concluded.
One big change they suggest is the creation of clinical and policy interventions, especially for people of color, who are already disproportionately affected by heart problems and tend to have access to basic affordable health care.
Prevention efforts to improve public health are also important, the researchers said, and save the U.S. a significant amount of money. The costs of cardiovascular problems—including direct health care costs and lost productivity—are expected to triple to $1.8 trillion by 2050.