By Cathy Nelson 

 Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, taking more lives each year than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined. It’s estimated that nearly half of all adults in the United States have heart disease.1

This article will highlight important facts and statistics you should know about heart disease.

Heart Disease Overview

Cardiovascular disease (referred to here simply as heart disease) is a condition that affects the heart or blood vessels. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which occurs when plaque builds up in the walls of arteries supplying blood to the heart.2 This disease can lead to a heart attack.3

Other types of heart disease include:4

• Congestive heart failure

• Heart rhythm problems

• Congenital heart disease

• Endocarditis

How Common Is Heart Disease?

Heart disease is prevalent in the United States and most of the world. Between 2015 and 2018:1

• Nearly 1 out of every 2 adults in the United States had a form of heart disease.

• About 4 out of 10 women in the United States ages 20 and older had some form of heart disease.

• About 5 out of 10 men in the United States, ages 20 and older, had some form of heart disease.

The number of American adults with heart disease is increasing. Between 2013 and 2016, 121.5 million American adults had heart disease.5

Heart Disease by Ethnicity

Non-Hispanic Black Americans have the highest prevalence of heart disease of any race in the United States. From 2015 to 2018 in the United States, heart disease occurred in those ages 20 and older in the following populations:1

• 58.8% of non-Hispanic Black females and 60.1% of non-Hispanic Black males

• 42.1% of non-Hispanic White females and 53.6% of non-Hispanic White males

• 42.7% of Hispanic females and 52.3% of Hispanic males

• 42.5% of non-Hispanic Asian females and 52.0% of non-Hispanic Asian males

Heart disease rates are also high among Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Some forms of the disease, such as heart failure and arrhythmia, are understudied in these groups. Coronary heart disease rates are 12% higher in these populations than in other ethnic groups and are believed to be underreported by 21%.6

Heart Disease by Age and Gender

Between 2015 and 2018, 54.1% of men 20 and older and 44.4% of women 20 and older had some form of heart disease.1

Heart disease is also the number one cause of death in new mothers, with Black women having the highest maternal mortality rates. Heart disease is the cause of more than 1 out of 3 maternal deaths in the United States.7

Men are more likely than women to develop heart disease. However, women’s risk of heart disease increases during midlife, and it’s believed that declining sex hormone levels that occur during menopause likely play a role.8

The risk of having heart disease increases with age, and by age 80 and older, nearly 9 out of 10 men and more than 9 out of 10 women have heart disease.1

Causes of Heart Disease and Risk Factors

Certain medical conditions and behaviors put people at higher risk for heart disease. The most significant risk factors for heart disease are prior heart or vascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking. About half of Americans have at least one of these three risk factors.2

Other risk factors for heart disease include:2

• Sleep disorders

• Chronic stress

• Cannabis use

• Family history

• Chronic kidney disease

• Autoimmune disorders

What Are the Mortality Rates for Heart Disease?

One American dies every 36 seconds from heart disease.9 In 2019, 874,613 Americans died from heart disease.1 Heart disease death rates have declined in the United States since the 1950s, although since 2010, the rate of decline has slowed.10

Heart disease accounts for about 1 out of every 4 deaths among males in the United States.11 In 2019, 453,801 males in the United States died of heart disease, representing 51.9% of all deaths.1

In 2019, heart disease was the leading cause of death for all U.S. male subgroups. Out of all deaths from disease, heart disease was the cause of:1

• 31.0% of non-Hispanic White male deaths

• 31.7% of non-Hispanic Black male deaths

• 27.1% of Hispanic male deaths

• 32.5% of non-Hispanic Asian male deaths

Heart disease accounts for about 1 in every 5 deaths among females in the United States.12 In 2019, 420,812 females in the United States died of heart disease, representing 48.1% of all deaths.1

In 2019, heart disease was the leading cause of death for all U.S. female subgroups. Out of all deaths from disease, heart disease was the cause of:1

• 30.3% of non-Hispanic White female deaths

• 32.8% of non-Hispanic Black female deaths

• 28.3% of Hispanic female deaths

• 31.5% of non-Hispanic Asian female deaths

Summary

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and all ethnic groups in the United States. Nearly half of all Americans have some form of heart disease.

The number of Americans with heart disease has been increasing steadily for years, and experts predict the number will continue to rise. Your risk of getting heart disease is higher if you are male. It increases for all genders with age.

Black Americans have the highest rate of heart disease of any ethnic group in the United States. Although death rates from heart disease have decreased since the 1950s, the rate of decline has slowed in recent years.

 Sources

Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2022 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About heart disease.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronary artery disease.

National Cancer Institute. Heart disease.

Benjamin EJ, Muntner P, Alonso A, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics - 2019 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000659

Breathett K, Sims M, Gross M, et al. Cardiovascular health in american indians and alaska natives: a scientific statement from the american heart association. Circulation. 2020;141(25):e948-e959. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000773

American Heart Association Go Red for Women. The facts about women and heart disease.

El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al. Menopause transition and cardiovascular disease risk: implications for timing of early prevention: a scientific statement from the american heart association. Circulation. 2020;142(25):e506-e532. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000912#d1916185e1

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart disease facts.

Sinatra JA. Stall in heart disease death rates, evidence from maine, 1999–2017. Prev Chronic Dis. 2020;17. doi:10.5888/pcd17.190405

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Men and heart disease.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lower your risk for the number 1 killer of women.

By Cathy Nelson
Cathy Nelson has worked as a writer and editor covering health and wellness for more than two decades. Her work has appeared in print and online in numerous outlets, including the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.