1 in 3 Deaths in 2023 Caused by Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) caused 1 in 3 deaths worldwide during 2023 as a result of population growth, population aging, and exposure to a wide range of risks, including obesity and diabetes, according to a Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study special report published in JACC.1

Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of mortality worldwide, as contributing factors have consistently increased. The American Heart Association released its Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update in January 2025, highlighting the 2022 statistics on cardiovascular deaths. The overall number of cardiovascular deaths in the US was 941,652, compared to 931,578 in 2021. This steep increase was attributed to several of the same factors as the GBD study, including obesity and diabetes.2

“This research provides countries with a clear view of where progress is being made and where urgent action is needed,” Gregory Roth, MD, MPH, professor in the division of cardiology and director of the program in cardiovascular health metrics at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, and senior author of the paper, said in a statement. “By targeting the most important and preventable risks, with effective policies and proven, cost-effective treatments, we can work to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. Each country can find reliable evidence and a kind of policy prescription for better cardiovascular health in our results.”1

The updated GBD report highlights wide global, regional, and national variations in CVD burden. Investigators estimated burden due to 376 individual diseases, including CVD, from 1990 to 2023 in 204 countries, identifying potential drivers such as population growth, population aging, and risk factor exposure.1

In 2023, investigators found 79.6% of all CVD disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide were attributable to modifiable risk factors. This number has increased by 97.4 million since 1990, and investigators credit this largely due to population growth and aging. Top risk factors include high fasting plasma glucose and high body mass index (BMI), followed by behavioral, environmental, and occupational factors such as air pollution, lead exposure, and higher temperatures.1

Investigators highlighted the following key takeaways from the study:

• The number of cardiovascular deaths worldwide rose from 13.1 million in 1990 to 19.2 million in 2023
• Men have higher cardiovascular mortality rates than women in most regions, and risk increases sharply after age 50.
• Ischemic heart disease affected roughly 240 million people in 2023, and lower extremity peripheral arterial disease impacted 122 million
• Stroke remained a leading cause of death and disability across all regions
• Ambient air pollution caused almost 4 million cardiovascular deaths in 2023
• Tobacco use, low physical activity, poor diet, and high alcohol consumption also contribute significantly to global mortality, particularly for ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation.
• High BMI and high fasting plasma glucose were the fastest-growing metabolic contributors between 2018 and 2023, mirroring global trends in obesity and diabetes.1

“This report is a wake-up call: heart disease remains the world’s leading cause of death, and the burden is rising fastest in places least equipped to bear it,” Harlan Krumholz, MD, FACC< JACC Editor-in-Chief and Harold H. Hines Jr. Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, said in a statement. “The good news is we know the risks and how to address them; if countries act now with effective health policies and systems, millions of lives can be saved.”1

The report will be published to coincide with an event titled “The Global Burden of CVD: New Insights to Drive Progress,” hosted at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.1

References

1. American College of Cardiology. Report: Cardiovascular diseases caused 1 in 3 global deaths in 2023. Eurekalert! September 24, 2025. Accessed September 24, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1099041

2. Lewis C. Heart disease remains leading cause of death as key health risk factors continue to rise. Heart.org. January 27, 2025. Accessed September 24, 2025. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-disease-remains-leading-cause-of-death-as-key-health-risk-factors-continue-to-rise