Global Trends in Cardiovascular Mortality and Risk Factors: Insights from WHO and Global Burden of Disease Data

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading global killer, causing an estimated 19.8 million deaths (32% of all deaths) in 2022. Although CVD mortality rates have declined in many countries due to improved prevention and treatment, population growth and aging have driven the total number of deaths upward from ~14 million in 2000 to ~18 million by 2019. Major risk factors including tobacco use, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and air pollution continue to fuel the CVD burden. This study compiles and analyzes recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), and related sources to characterize global trends in CVD mortality and modifiable risk factors from 1990 to the latest year available. We describe data sources and methods, present global and regional CVD mortality trends, highlight disparities across WHO regions and income groups, and examine country-level changes. We also analyze trends in major risk factors (tobacco, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, air pollution) and their associations with CVD mortality. Our results show substantial declines in age-standardized CVD death rates in high-income regions, but rising or stagnating rates in parts of Asia and Africa. Countries with high smoking rates or uncontrolled hypertension have smaller mortality gains. The findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened prevention and control of risk factors in low- and middle-income countries to meet global targets. Key strategies include tobacco control, blood pressure screening and treatment, obesity/diabetes prevention, and reducing air pollution.