Heart Disease Mortality in the United States, 1970 to 2022
Heart Disease Mortality in the United States, 1970 to 2022
Source: Journal of the American Heart Association
AHAIASA Journals
Originally Published 25 June 2025
Heart attack deaths are way down after decades of breakthroughs—but other risks have skyrocketed
1. Major Progress Against Heart Attacks:
• From 1970 to 2022, heart disease-related deaths in the U.S. dropped from 41% to 24%.
• Deaths from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) decreased by 89%.
• These improvements reflect medical advances in managing heart attacks and ischemic heart disease.
2. Rising Mortality in Other Heart Conditions:
• Heart failure deaths rose by 146%.
• Hypertensive heart disease deaths increased by 106%.
• Arrhythmia-related deaths increased by a staggering 450%.
• These trends suggest a shift in which types of heart disease are now most dangerous.
3. Key Messages from Experts:
• Dr. Sara King (Stanford): This shift shows success in treating heart attacks but highlights urgent challenges in managing heart failure and arrhythmias.
• Dr. Latha Palaniappan (Stanford): Since more people survive heart attacks, we’re now seeing increased rates of heart failure.
4. Contributing Risk Factors:
• Increases in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension are driving the rise in non-ischemic heart diseases.
5. Call for Ongoing Action:
• Experts emphasize the need to enhance prevention efforts—starting as early as childhood.
