World heart disease statistics
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Global Heart Disease Statistics
Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence and Mortality
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, are the leading cause of global mortality, responsible for approximately 18.6 million deaths in 2019 . This number is projected to rise to over 23.6 million by 2030. The prevalence of CVD has nearly doubled from 271 million cases in 1990 to 523 million in 2019. The burden of CVD is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, which account for more than 80% of global IHD deaths.
Regional Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease
High-Income vs. Middle-Income Countries
There are significant disparities in CVD burden between high-income and middle-income countries. High-income countries have seen a decline in age-standardized CVD mortality rates over the past few decades, whereas middle-income countries have experienced either flat or increasing trends . For instance, the age-standardized prevalence of hypertension is lower in high-income countries (18% for women and 27% for men) compared to middle-income countries (24% for women and 30% for men). Similarly, smoking prevalence among men is lower in high-income countries (26%) compared to middle-income countries (41%).
Europe
In Europe, CVD remains the most common cause of death, accounting for more than 4 million deaths annually, with over 1.4 million of these deaths occurring prematurely before the age of 75. The burden of CVD is particularly high in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where mortality rates are among the highest globally. In contrast, some high-income European countries have seen cancer surpass CVD as the leading cause of death .
Risk Factors and Trends
Obesity and Diabetes
The prevalence of obesity and diabetes has increased two- to three-fold over the last 30 years, making it unlikely that the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2025 targets to halt the rise in these risk factors will be met. The obesity epidemic is a significant challenge, contributing to the rising incidence of CVD across all regions.
Air Quality and Environmental Factors
Environmental factors such as air quality also play a crucial role in CVD prevalence. For example, the median PM2.5 concentrations in 2019 were over twice as high in middle-income European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member countries compared to high-income countries, exceeding the EU air quality standard in 14 middle-income countries.
Healthcare Disparities
Resource Allocation
Middle-income countries are severely under-resourced compared to high-income countries in terms of cardiological personnel and technological infrastructure. This under-resourcing is associated with a significant procedural deficit in coronary interventions, device implantations, and cardiac surgeries . High-income countries spend, on average, four times more on healthcare than middle-income countries, which is reflected in better healthcare outcomes.
Procedural Deficits
The procedural deficit in middle-income countries is stark, with fewer coronary interventions, ablation procedures, and cardiac surgeries compared to high-income countries . This disparity contributes to higher CVD mortality and morbidity in these regions.
Conclusion
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally, with significant disparities in prevalence, mortality, and healthcare resources between high-income and middle-income countries. Addressing these disparities through targeted interventions, improved healthcare infrastructure, and effective policy initiatives is crucial to reducing the global burden of CVD. The rising prevalence of risk factors such as obesity and diabetes further underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to combat this global health challenge.
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