Many US Adults Don't Know That Heart Disease Is the Leading Cause of Death Nationwide

Based on responses from a recent Harris Poll survey conducted on behalf of the American Heart Association (AHA), more than half of adults in the United States don’t know that heart disease is the leading cause of death nationwide. The finding is alarming considering that heart disease has been the top killer of Americans for more than a century, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Heart disease, along with stroke, which is the fifth leading cause of death, claims more lives in the [United States] than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined, based on the most recent data available,” said Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD, FAHA, volunteer president of the AHA, director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, and the Simon H. Stertzer Professor of Medicine and Radiology at Stanford School of Medicine, in a press release. “The results of this survey, finding that most people do not know the significant impact of heart disease, [are] discouraging and even a bit frightening.”

According to the results, only 49% of respondents named heart disease as the leading cause of death. Sixteen percent of respondents said they didn’t know the leading cause, and 18% listed cancer as the top cause of death. Dr. Wu cautioned that this lack of knowledge and awareness is potentially deadly, given that a 2024 statistical update showed that nearly half (48.6%) of all US residents have some type of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and, most notably, high blood pressure.

A total of 46.7% of US adults have high blood pressure, but 38.0% are unaware that they have it, the statistical update also found. In the past 10 years, the age-adjusted death rate from high blood pressure increased by 65.6%, and the actual number of deaths rose 91.2%.

“High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and yet with proper treatment and management, it can be controlled and your risk for cardiovascular disease can be greatly reduced. The first step toward reducing any risk factor for cardiovascular disease is awareness.” Dr. Wu said. “The knowledge we continue to gain through research and data such as that reported in this statistical update is helping make significant inroads. Although too many people still die each year, many are living longer, more productive lives while managing their cardiovascular disease and risk factors.”