The Journal of the American Heart Association published the latest data about cardio-related deaths in the country. According to the study, U.S. heart disease deaths due to alcohol increased every year between 1999 and 2019.
Substance use-related heart disease rose by an average of 4% per year during the period. The figures even increased to 6.2% from 2012-2019. This is despite the fact that overall heart disease-related deaths declined during the same period. According to senior author Dr. Abramov, these findings reflect the reality experienced in clinics, as per U.S. News reporting.
The study results were generally consistent with what we see in our clinic while caring for patients with cardiovascular disease.”
Dr. Dmitry Abramov, senior author, cardiologist, associate professor of medicine, Loma Linda University Health, California
The study is based on publicly available data provided by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The study reveals that 636,000 heart disease deaths are due to substance use. The data revealed that alcohol was the most often implicated in relation to these deaths, playing a role in about 65% of heart-related deaths. Other substances that were found to be involved included opioids (13.7%), cocaine (9.8%), stimulants (6.5%), sedatives (4.1%), and cannabis (0.5%).
Differences in how heart disease affects different communities
The study shows that there are differences in the extent to which heart disease affects certain demographics.
For example, the largest increase in deaths occurred among 25- to 29-year-olds: 5.3%. The second highest demographic affected are adults aged 55 to 69 (4.9%). The increase in heart disease also affected women disproportionately, amounting to a 4.8% increase.
The increase also disproportionately affects American Indian or Alaskan individuals (5.4%). It is also higher among people living in rural areas (5%). According to Dr. Abramov, this increase is surprising, as per U.S. News reporting:
We were surprised to see significant increases among individuals aged 25 to 39, compared to other age groups and among people in certain racial and ethnic groups, including white adults and American Indian/Alaska Native adults.
In addition, while the rates of cardiovascular disease mortality related to substance use were higher in men than women, women demonstrated larger increases during the study period.
Data from prior studies have found notable increases during the study period. Data from prior studies have found notable increases in substance use among women over the last 20 years, and women may face unique societal risks that may contribute to the increases noted in our study. These sex-based differences, in addition to the differences by race and ethnicity, age and living in an urban or rural community, require additional research.”
Dr. Dmitry Abramov, senior author, cardiologist, associate professor of medicine, Loma Linda University Health, California
The study also found that the increase in women affected by heart disease is on the rise. The absolute number of deaths related to substance use among men is still higher than women. Identifying the groups disproportionately affected is key in identifying the preventative measures that need to be prioritized.
Alcohol and opioids leading cause of heart disease in the U.S.
According to the Journal, alcohol and opioids are the leading causes of heart-disease-related deaths in the U.S. These are both modifiable risk factors for heart disease and form a significant fraction of the 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes that can be prevented.
A ground-breaking report on alcohol and blood pressure, released in March 2023, summarizes the best scientific research and provides a state-of-the-art overview of alcohol’s substantial causal role in the genesis of hypertension and related diseases.
Alcohol is a significant contributing cause of hypertension. Hypertension itself is the leading cause of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and dementia.
This clearly makes alcohol one of the leading risk factors for CVD mortality in the world. Heart disease in high-income countries is especially characterised by high levels of behavioural risks factors. These include high levels of sodium, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, and low physical activity.
The WHF Policy Brief on The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health provides a summary of effective alcohol policies and recommendations for how national cardiovascular societies can advocate for better alcohol control measures.
Sources
American Heart Association: “U.S. heart disease deaths linked with substance use rose 4% per year between 1999-2019“
American Heart Association: “Drug- and alcohol-related heart disease and stroke deaths rising“
U.S.News & World Report: “U.S. Has Seen Steady Rise in Role of Alcohol, Drugs in Heart Deaths“
