The Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases Among US States, 1990-2016

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the leading cause of death in the United States in 2016, accounting for more than 900 000 deaths.¹ Despite large declines in CVD mortality in the late 20th century attributed to advances in public health and health care, improvements in US life expectancy have slowed for some groups, and CVD mortality is no longer improving.^2-5 The strongest signal for this alarming trend in US health is identified subnationally at the state and county level, where levels of risk exposure and health vary widely.^6-8