Cardiovascular Disease Now Leading Cause of Death Among Hispanic Adults

Cardiovascular disease has overtaken cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the U.S., according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association published in Circulation. The statement, chaired by Dr. Johanna Contreras of Mount Sinai Health System, highlights that rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure—often emerging at younger ages—are driving this disparity. Hispanic adults represent nearly 20% of the U.S. population but face significant barriers to heart health, including limited access to care, language differences, food insecurity, and low health literacy. The statement calls for culturally tailored prevention strategies, equitable access to care, and greater representation of Hispanic populations in cardiovascular research.

The writing group emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, as Hispanic communities are diverse in genetic ancestry, language, and social experiences. Data show that nearly 46% of Hispanic adults have obesity, 15.5% have type 2 diabetes (nearly twice the rate of white adults), and 44% have high blood pressure, with lower awareness and control rates. Hispanic adults are diagnosed with heart failure about 8-9 years younger and experience a first stroke 6-8 years younger than white adults. Only about 1 in 5 achieve ideal cardiovascular health as defined by the American Heart Association’s Life's Essential 8™ framework. The statement outlines an action plan including community partnerships, bilingual health education, increased use of community health workers, and policies addressing social determinants of health to reduce disparities and improve outcomes.