Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. It's usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots.
According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women of most ethnic backgrounds in the United States. The most common form is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which is a buildup of plaque in the walls of the arteries that can limit the supply of blood to the heart causing a heart attack. Blocked arteries can also impact the flow of blood to the brain, which could lead to a stroke. Strokes are also a common form of Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA).
Cardiovascular Disease
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2024:
Each year in the U.S., there are about 605,000 new heart attacks and 200,000 recurrent attacks. Of these, it is estimated that 170,000 are silent, without significant symptoms.
Each year, 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke.
Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States and can affect women at any age.
In 2021, it was responsible for the deaths of 310,661 women—or about 1 in every 5 female deaths. Only about half (56%) of US women recognize that heart disease is their number 1 killer.
Key Global Statistics from the CDC 2024 Report:
In 2019, 27% of the world’s deaths were caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD), making it the predominant cause of death globally.
CVD accounted for approximately 19.91 million global deaths in 2021.
Worldwide, tobacco contributed to an estimated 7.43 million deaths in 2021.
Worldwide, high body mass index was attributed to 3.69 million deaths in 2021, an increase of 46.7% compared with 2010.
In 2021, an estimated 1.70 million deaths were attributed to diabetes globally.