Health
Alarming Rise: Disease Rates Surge 450% Over Five Decades in America
A recent report has revealed a startling increase in deaths from chronic heart conditions in the United States over the past 50 years. While heart attack fatalities have significantly decreased, other cardiovascular diseases are on the rise, leading to a 450% increase in deaths from these conditions.
The American Heart Association’s annual update highlights that heart disease remains a leading cause of death, claiming a life every 34 seconds in the U.S., which surpasses fatalities from cancer and accidents combined.
Heart disease encompasses various cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, and more. Although heart attacks, once the foremost cause of death, have seen a decline due to medical advancements, chronic heart issues have surged.
A report in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) noted that heart attack deaths among adults over 25 have decreased from 41% to 24% of all U.S. deaths over the past five decades. This decline is attributed to advancements such as heart stents, coronary artery bypass surgery, cholesterol medications, CPR training, and reduced smoking rates.
These innovations have significantly improved heart attack survival rates. In 1970, only 60% of those over 65 survived a heart attack, whereas today, 90% do. Sara King, MD, the study’s lead author, explained, “Ischemic heart disease is caused by plaque building up in the arteries. It’s a common pathophysiology that we have learned can be prevented and treated.”
Despite these improvements, deaths from chronic heart conditions like heart failure and arrhythmias have increased. Heart failure deaths alone have risen by 146%. Dr. King noted, “People now are surviving these acute events, so they have the opportunity to develop these other heart conditions.”
The rise in chronic conditions is linked to an increase in risk factors among Americans. King highlighted, “Often it’s the passage of time that can lead to conditions such as atrial fibrillation or heart failure. Finding ways to age healthily is going to be the next frontier of heart care.”
However, the study did not consider factors such as sex, race, and socioeconomic status, which can influence heart disease risk and access to care. Dr. King emphasized, “A lot of people, unfortunately, who end up in this mortality dataset are people who don’t engage with care or who don’t have access to care.”
As the research continues, Dr. King aims to explore these subgroups further to understand better the disparities in heart disease outcomes and improve care for all individuals.
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