Cardiovascular disease deaths on wrong track
WASHINGTON — A new report out today from the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention calls attention to the startling increase in heart disease deaths, after decades of steady decline.
The report, titled “Wrong Direction: Troubling Trends in the Rate of U.S. Cardiovascular Disease Deaths,” from Dr. Stephen Sidney, director of research clinics at Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, is being released at the National Forum’s 15th annual meeting.
Cardiovascular diseases account for more than 30 percent of all deaths in the United States. For 22 years, thanks to significant advances in treatment and prevention, the rate of death from these diseases has steadily declined. Recent data shows that this downward trend has slowed, and, in fact, increased by 53,000 since 2011.
The National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention brings together the most dynamic and diverse organizations in cardiovascular health, providing a forum and outlet for these organizations to work together toward preventing and reducing cardiovascular disease deaths.