Protecting the gains: What changes are needed to prevent a reversal of the downward cardiovascular disease mortality trend?

Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality has decreased over 60% over the past 50 years in the United States; however, emerging data indicate CVD incidence may be rising because of shifting demographics, increasing risk factor prevalence, and competing needs for limited resources. We projected CVD mortality from 2015 to 2040 given varying informed assumptions regarding changes in risk factor prevalence, uptake of current therapeutic options, and future innovations.

Methods: A microsimulation model was used to project US CVD mortality trends. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were used to estimate population-level trends in CVD risk factors. Risk factors were used to generate Framingham Risk Scores for cohorts of 1 000 000 individuals from the general population to determine each individuals' CVD risk. Annual cardiovascular incidence, prevalence, and mortality were projected for scenarios differing by uptake of current therapies, anticipated pharmaceutical innovations with variable efficacy, risk factor prevalence, and changes in health disparities.

Results: When incorporating a demographic shift, continued changes in risk factors, current treatment utilization, and no major innovations, we predicted the CVD mortality rate would increase 41% by 2040. If innovations providing incremental benefits equal to those associated with the introduction of statins are identified and widely utilized, CVD mortality could remain constant through 2040. With more efficacious innovations, CVD mortality could be further reduced.

Conclusions: Given demographic and risk prevalence changes, increasing access and adherence to current preventative therapeutics could slow the expected mortality increase, but new therapies may be needed to maintain the downward trend in CVD deaths.