61% of US adults will have cardiovascular disease by 2050: report

The American Heart Association warns that 61% of American adults will likely have some type of cardiovascular disease in the next 30 years as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity become more common.

“We recognize that the landscape of cardiovascular health will change over the next three decades because of the coming tsunami of rising health care costs, an older population living longer and increasing numbers of people from under-resourced populations,” AHA CEO Nancy Brown said in a statement.

Cardiologist and health economist Dhruv Kazi predicts a “near-perfect storm” that will see the prevalence of high blood pressure increase from 51.2% to 61%, obesity skyrocket from 43.1% to 60.6%, and diabetes rise from 16.3% to 26.8%.

As a result, more than 184 million Americans will be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease by 2050, up from 128 million in 2020, according to the projections the AHA released Tuesday.

The organization said the disease will come with a $1.8 trillion price tag, which includes $1.4 trillion in direct health care costs as well as “indirect costs,” such as premature death and lost economic productivity. The AHA reports that direct health care costs for cardiovascular disease totaled $393 billion in 2020.

Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the US since the AHA was founded in 1924, while stroke is the fifth leading cause of death.

Cardiovascular disease refers to several conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, heart arrhythmias, vascular disease, congenital heart defects, stroke and high blood pressure. 

There is some good news among the bleak estimates. The AHA expects people to become more physically active, smoking to become less popular, and eating habits to slightly improve in the coming years.

The organization says the approval of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy also “may lead to a sea change in our medical approach” to diabetes and obesity.

In the meantime, the AHA is calling for widespread access to quality, affordable health care and more funding for cutting-edge research into cardiovascular prevention and treatment.

“Our aging population calls for an enhanced cardiovascular workforce and infrastructure, including access to long-term care facilities and resources,” Brown said. “We must better support our children and their families to recognize the impact that health choices made today will influence our health for years to come.”

How to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease

• Eat a diet that emphasizes whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts and seeds
• Incorporate exercise into your daily routine — adults should get 2 ½ hours of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week while kids should have an hour every day
• Quit using cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vapes
• Get more sleep — most adults need seven to nine hours a night while kids often require eight to 16 hours depending on their age
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Manage your cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure