Heart disease killed one person out of every three deaths globally during 2023, researchers reported Wednesday. Deaths from heart conditions jumped dramatically from 13.1 million people in 1990 to 19.2 million last year. Population growth and aging populations drove this increase along with rising obesity and diabetes rates. Approximately 240 million people suffered from blocked heart arteries while 122 million experienced circulation problems in their legs. Men faced higher death rates from heart disease than women across most regions.
Risk factors that people can control accounted for nearly 80 percent of all heart disease cases worldwide. Body weight and blood sugar levels became the fastest-growing health threats between 2018 and 2023. Geographic location significantly affected heart disease rates beyond what income differences alone could explain. The study examined 376 diseases across 204 countries from 1990 to 2023. Heart disease remained the top cause of lost healthy years globally.
Risk factors that people can control accounted for nearly 80 percent of all heart disease cases worldwide. Body weight and blood sugar levels became the fastest-growing health threats between 2018 and 2023. Geographic location significantly affected heart disease rates beyond what income differences alone could explain. The study examined 376 diseases across 204 countries from 1990 to 2023. Heart disease remained the top cause of lost healthy years globally.
