Assessing Supply, Demand, and Adequacy of Cardiologists in the United States: Projecting a National Shortage

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of contemporary studies on the projected supply and demand of cardiologists in the United States. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of US-based cardiologists using data from the Health Workforce Simulation Model. Demand and supply were defined as the number of full-time equivalent physicians needed and working in cardiology, respectively. Adequacy was defined as the ratio of supply over demand. Cardiology workforce trends were calculated from 2025 to 2037. RESULTS: From 2025 to 2037, the supply of cardiologists was projected to increase from 37 000 to 37 730 (2.0% increase). Demand for cardiologists was projected to increase (40 110 to 46 390, 15.7% increase). As a result, the adequacy of the cardiologist workforce was projected to decrease from 92.2% to 81.4%. By 2037, nonmetropolitan areas were projected to have a less adequate supply than metropolitan areas (29.2% versus 88.9%). The West had the lowest adequacy relative to the Northeast (69.1% versus 117%). By 2037, the states with the lowest adequacy were Idaho (47.8%), Nevada (48.8%), and Alaska (50.0%). In 2025, cardiology ranked 14th out of 21 specialties for physician workforce adequacy, which increased to 12th by 2037. CONCLUSIONS: Future workforce shortages are anticipated in cardiology, which are greatest in the West, certain US states, and nonmetropolitan areas. Future work is needed to implement strategies that improve the adequacy of the cardiologist workforce in the United States.