Americans' best efforts not enough to cut heart disease deaths

Five modifiable risk factors continue to account for half of cardiovascular deaths in U.S.

Despite decades of progress in reducing cardiovascular mortality, preventable risk factors continue to account for half of heart disease deaths. The findings from national survey data are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death nationally. The top five leading preventable risk factors for heart disease are elevated cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and smoking. Researchers studied data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) national surveys from 2009 to 2010 to determine the extent to which national cardiovascular mortality could be expected to decrease if all states were successful at reducing those modifiable risk factor levels to specified target levels. The author report the fraction of cardiovascular deaths that could have been prevented in 2009 to 2010 under two scenarios: complete elimination of risk factors, and reduction of risk factors to the best achieved levels in U.S. states in 2009-2010 (a more realistic goal).

The data showed that about half of deaths could be prevented if the modifiable risk factors were completely eliminated. Fewer than 10 percent of cardiovascular deaths could be prevented if all states were to achieve risk factor levels observed in the best-performing states. The authors conclude that all states could benefit from more aggressive policies and programs to help reduce risk of death from heart disease.