Heart Disease Risk Rising Among U.S. Women, New Report Warns
A new American Heart Association statement projects that by 2050, 6 in 10 U.S. women will have cardiovascular disease, driven by rising obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, but highlights prevention strategies to reverse the trend.
A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published in its flagship journal Circulation, warns that the threat of heart disease and stroke is growing substantially among women and girls in the United States. The report projects that by 2050, 6 in 10 U.S. women will have at least one type of cardiovascular disease (CVD), fueled largely by rising rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Nearly 32% of girls ages 2-19 may have obesity by 2050, highlighting the impact on younger generations. The findings point to increases among women for all types of CVD, including heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.
“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women and remains their No. 1 health risk overall,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health. “While many people may think conditions like high blood pressure are only occurring in older women, we know this is not the case. We know the factors that contribute to heart disease and stroke begin early in life, even among young women and girls. The impact is even greater among those experiencing adverse social determinants of health such as poverty, low literacy, rural residence and other psychosocial stressors.”
Despite these concerning trends, there is positive news: Rates of high cholesterol are expected to decline among nearly all groups of women, and improvements are expected in some health behaviors that impact CVD, including healthier eating, more physical activity, and less smoking.
The most effective way to reduce the prevalence of CVD is through prevention, prioritizing optimal health through the four health behaviors (eat better, be more active, quit tobacco, and get healthy sleep) and four health factors (manage weight, control cholesterol, manage blood sugar, and manage blood pressure) that comprise the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8.
The report emphasizes promoting healthy choices in schools, community centers, pediatric clinics, and gynecology offices, and using digital tools to encourage positive lifestyle changes. Managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity early can make a difference, especially for women at higher risk. Coordinated care across specialties should be integrated before, during, and after pregnancy, and research should continue on how lifestyle changes and hormone therapy around menopause impact women’s heart health.
Health systems should also consider how social challenges—like access to healthy food, transportation, or safe housing—combine with medical risks, designing interventions that improve heart health in each setting. For the full report and more advice, visit Heart.org.