Scientists have documented a concerning rise in deaths associated with cardiovascular diseases following the COVID-19 pandemic. Rebecca C. Woodruff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expressed her concern, stating: "We were worried about emerging evidence suggesting a worsening of chronic disease outcomes during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and unfortunately, this was the case for heart disease and strokes, which had been improving before the pandemic."
A joint report from the CDC and Northwestern University revealed that "cardiovascular disease-related deaths between 2020 and 2022 exceeded expectations by 228,000 across all population groups." This two-year period witnessed "a significant increase of 9.3%, sharply contrasting with the 8.9% decrease recorded from 2010 to 2019." Woodruff attributed the setback to the widespread impacts of COVID-19, noting its role in disrupting access to healthcare, causing delays in addressing chronic or acute heart issues, and presenting challenges in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, all of which affected factors such as diet, sleep, physical activity, blood pressure, and blood sugar management.
New evidence suggests "a potential link between COVID-19 infection and increased risk of heart disease, according to the CDC." Woodruff emphasized "the importance of research to understand the drivers behind the significant rise in cardiovascular disease mortality rates, aiming to guide clinical and public health strategies for prevention, detection, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases." She continued by stating that "reprioritizing the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases is a crucial first step," highlighting the urgent need to prioritize cardiovascular health in public health initiatives and clinical practices.
