I want you to imagine this: one in every three people you see—or pass on the street, sit beside at work, laugh with over dinner—will be claimed, ultimately, by a heart-related problem. That’s not hyperbole. It’s what the new Global Burden of Disease study, published in JACC, has laid bare. 

Between 1990 and 2023, deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) surged from 13.1 million to 19.2 million annually 


Between 1990 and 2023, deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) surged from 13.1 million to 19.2 million annually. That rise, the researchers say, is driven not just by aging populations and more people in the world, but by shifts in risk—things like obesity, diabetes, poor diets, and air pollution. 

What does that mean for you? Let me tell you.

In many places—especially low- and middle-income countries—the burden falls hardest on people least equipped to manage it. The study found wide variation in how severe the burden is across countries—even among those with similar incomes. Some of that comes down to infrastructure: access to preventive care, quality of hospitals, public health systems, and local policy.

Also striking: nearly 80 percent (79.6 %) of the burden of CVD (measured in DALYs—“disability-adjusted life years”) comes from modifiable risks. “Modifiable” means these are factors we have some control over—things like high blood pressure, poor diet, high cholesterol, exposure to air pollution, and high blood sugar. In other words: much of this isn’t fate. It’s preventable.

One of the lead authors, Gregory A. Roth, emphasized that the report gives countries “a clear view of where progress is being made and where urgent action is needed.” And Harlan Krumholz, Editor-in-Chief of JACC, called it a “wake-up call,” stressing that while heart disease remains the world’s top killer, we already know many of the tools to fight it—if they’re deployed wisely. 

Let’s bring this closer to home.

You might think, “This is a distant, statistical thing.” But if you’re 40 or 50—or even younger—with a family, a career, and daily life stresses—this matters. It affects whether that extra soda, salt, or sedentary afternoon becomes a health risk. Whether your city’s pollution or your access to a clinic helps or hurts. Whether policy shifts make a difference in your community, or leave you stranded.

If you manage your blood pressure, check your sugar, aim for a balanced diet, get regular movement—even small steps—these maps of risk tilt. If your local government prioritizes clean air, equitable health care, and preventive screening, you gain an ally. The smarter the policy, the stronger the safety net.

I won’t sugarcoat it: the challenge is steep. Populations are aging. Urbanization is rising. People are adopting more sedentary lifestyles. The costs—both personal and societal—pile up. But the insight here is powerful: because so much is modifiable, change is possible.

Here’s what to watch next:

Will governments use this new evidence to push stronger heart health policies—better regulation of air quality, salt in food, access to care? Will funders invest in primary care, community screening, and early detection programs? Will innovation in low-cost interventions scale into places that now struggle with basics?

On your end, you are part of the story too: not as a passive statistic, but as someone who can take action—small ones, consistent ones—and call for better systems. Because if heart disease is going to shift downward, it won’t just be the triumph of science; it’ll be the sum of many choices, many lives, many communities waking up to what they can shape.

Sources: 1 | Scimex | New Atlas