As the landscape of cardiovascular health continues to evolve, it is imperative that healthcare providers adopt a more compassionate approach towards patients. With new risk factors emerging and advancements in proactive cardiac care, physicians and administrators have more opportunities than ever before to identify CVD risks and support patients on their journey to better health.
To address these challenges, health system leaders must prioritize personalized approaches that are tailored to individual patient needs and circumstances. This includes understanding population health trends, utilizing technology to identify and respond to CVD risks early on, and providing supportive care throughout the patient’s journey.
Despite recent advancements in cardiovascular health, such as a significant drop in age-standardized death rates in the United States from over 500 per 100,000 people in 1950 to just over 130 in 2021, there are still challenges that remain. Social determinants of health, such as low socioeconomic status, have emerged as recognized risk factors for cardiovascular disease due to limited access to education and economic opportunities, lack of healthy lifestyle influences from peers, and increased psychosocial stressors. Addressing these factors will be crucial in improving overall cardiovascular health outcomes in the future.
