JACC Inaugural Cardiovascular Studies Report Highlights Progress and Potential for Growth

On January 12, 2026, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) published the inaugural JACC Cardiovascular Statistics report, examining 5 major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and the 5 conditions that collectively account for most CVD deaths and disability in the US.1

The report aims to analyze disease burden, quality of care, and mortality trends for each of the risk factors – obesity, diabetes, hypertension, LDL-cholesterol, and cigarette smoking – and conditions – coronary heart disease (CHD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and stroke. The investigators aimed to determine where progress has been made in recent years and what must still be done to optimize care and provide treatment to all patients equally.1,2

“JACC Cardiovascular Statistics 2026 reflects one of JACC’s most important responsibilities: to help our community see clearly where we stand,” Rishi Wadhera, MD, cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and lead author of the report, said in a statement. “Progress in cardiovascular health has always depended on data—on our willingness to reflect the evidence clearly, to face uncomfortable truths, and to use evidence to guide action.”1

Each risk factor is analyzed via nationally representative surveys, administrative claims, clinical registries, and vital statistics. Wadhera and colleagues found persistent disparities across all risk factors and conditions, primarily by race, geography, and socioeconomic status. The report also highlights areas of incomplete data.1

Among the findings in the document, the most critical are as follows:

• The prevalence of diabetes and mortality therefrom is increasing among young adults and low-income populations
• Obesity can now be considered an epidemic, as >40% of US adults are now affected
• Hypertension affects 1 in 2 US adults, with no significant change since 2009
• Most high-risk adults fail to reach their LDL-C targets, while statin use remains limited
• AMI hospitalizations declined from 2004 to 2010, but young adult AMI hospitalizations have risen in recent years
• PAD affects roughly 1 in 14 adults, and nearly half of those undergoing peripheral vascular interventions are not given full guideline-directed medical therapy at discharge
• CHD impacts >20.5 million US adults; these rates have steadily increased since 2019
• HF affects roughly 6.7 million adults. Although mortality rates decreased steadily from 1999 to 2011, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a sharp increase
• Stroke accounts for roughly 1 in 20 deaths in 2023.1

Because the document focuses primarily on updating clinicians on recent data, it provides few practice-changing guidelines. Instead, it provides perspective, aiming to encourage both clinicians and policymakers to approach the issue of CVD from alternative angles to minimize disparities and optimize treatment.2

“If we want a healthier future, we must understand how far we have come, how far we have yet to go, and what stands in our way,” wrote Harlan Krumholz, MD, editor-in-chief of JACC. “By putting data at the center of JACC’s collective awareness, we aim to help the cardiovascular community, including clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and the public, see the landscape clearly and chart a more effective path forward.”2

JACC also announced plans to release the document annually, at the beginning of every year. The investigators plan to expand it to include additional conditions and populations in the future.2

References

1. American College of Cardiology. JACC Issues Inaugural Report on State of US Cardiovascular Health. Eurekalert! January 12, 2026. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112013

2. Wadhera, R, Dhruva, S, Bikdeli, B. et al. Cardiovascular Statistics in the United States, 2026: JACC Stats. JACC. null2026, 0 (0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.12.027