Key Points
- To examine global temporal trends in cardiovascular disease incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years, as well as attributable risk factors, in adults aged 55 and older from 1990 to 2021.
- Analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 across 204 countries and territories for adults aged 55 years and older.
- Calculated age-standardized rates and estimated annual percentage changes for incidence, DALYs, and mortality across overall and type-specific cardiovascular conditions.
- Assessed the contributions of key modifiable risk factors stratified by sex, age groups, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) levels.
- Global age-standardized rates declined between 1990 and 2021, with estimated annual percentage changes of -0.39 for incidence, -1.30 for DALYs, and -1.11 for mortality, though absolute case counts rose due to population growth and aging.
- High-middle SDI regions showed the highest incidence and mortality rates, while men and adults aged 80 and older experienced the highest burden across all metrics.
- High systolic blood pressure was the leading modifiable risk factor, contributing to over 50% of global cardiovascular-related DALYs, followed by high LDL cholesterol, smoking, and ambient particulate matter pollution.
Structured PICO
PPopulationAdults aged 55 and older from 204 countries and territories
OOutcomeGlobal temporal trends in the incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality rates of both overall and type-specific cardiovascular diseaseshard clinical
While age-standardized rates of cardiovascular disease have declined globally over the past three decades, the absolute burden continues to rise due to population aging and growth, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.