Key facts
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world: more people die each year from cardiovascular disease than from any other cause.
- An estimated 17.3 million deaths from cardiovascular disease, or 30% of total global mortality. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.3 million are due to coronary heart disease and 6.2 million to a stroke (2008 statistics).
- More than 80% of deaths occur in middle- and low-income countries and almost equally affect men and women.
- By 2030, nearly 23.3 million people will die from cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease or stroke). These diseases are projected to remain the leading causes of death.
- Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet, obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
- 9.4 million deaths each year, or 16.5% of all deaths, can be attributed to high blood pressure. This is responsible for 51% of stroke deaths and 45% of deaths from coronary heart disease.