Key result
High BMI-related cardiovascular deaths globally increased from 0.9 million in 1990 to 1.9 million in 2021, although the age-standardized mortality rate declined by 6.83% to 22.77 per 100,000.
Why the study?
CVD remains a major global cause of death, with high BMI as a key modifiable risk factor, prompting an examination of global and regional mortality patterns and future projections.
Observational
Yes
Despite a modest decline in age-standardized mortality rates, the absolute number of high-BMI-related cardiovascular deaths has more than doubled globally since 1990, highlighting a growing public health burden.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Rising absolute high-BMI CV deaths highlight ongoing burden; extends global trend data but leaves intervention targets open.
Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major global cause of death, with high body mass index (BMI) as a key modifiable risk factor. This study examines global and regional patterns of CVD mortality attributable to high BMI from 1990 to 2021, with projections to 2032. Methods: Using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data from 204 countries, we analyzed age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) and population-attributable fractions by sex, age, socio-demographic index (SDI), and region. Future trends were estimated using a Bayesian age-period-cohort model, with uncertainity intervals from 1000 posterior simulations. Results: High BMI-related deaths due to CVD rose from 0.9 million in 1990 to 1.9 million in 2021, with ASMR declining from 24.43 to 22.77 per 100,000 (-6.83 %). High-middle SDI regions had the highest ASMR, while low-middle SDI regions saw the largest increase. Mortality rose for hypertensive heart disease and atrial fibrillation and flutter, but declined for ischemic heart disease and stroke. Older adults accounted for most deaths, though ASMR increased among those aged 15-49. By 2032, deaths are projected to reach 2.5 million (+33 %), with ASMR dropping to 22.06. Conclusion: Despite modest ASMR declines, high-BMI-related CVD deaths are rising, especially in low-SDI regions, underscoring the need for targeted prevention.
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Fallahtafti et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Cardiovascular disease. High body mass index was evaluated on Cardiovascular disease mortality attributable to high BMI. High BMI-related cardiovascular deaths globally increased from 0.9 million in 1990 to 1.9 million in 2021, although the age-standardized mortality rate declined by 6.83% to 22.77 per 100,000.
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