Health library

Feb. 2, 2026— Every year, the American Heart Association (AHA) releases updated info on how heart disease and stroke affect Americans. The 2026 report includes encouraging news—and new warnings about a risk that affects almost 9 in 10 U.S. adults.

Heart disease is still the top threat

The report, based on data from 2023 to 2025, shows that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the country. Stroke now ranks fourth, moving up after COVID-19 dropped to tenth place. Together, heart disease and stroke caused more than a quarter of all U.S. deaths in 2023. That's more than cancer and accidents combined.

To put it another way: In 2023, someone in the U.S. died from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds on average. About half of all U.S. adults have some form of cardiovascular disease. That includes conditions like high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke.

Some good news

The overall number of heart disease and stroke deaths has dropped. In 2023, about 916,000 people died from cardiovascular disease. That's down from nearly 942,000 the year before. Deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke also fell.

However, stroke deaths are climbing in two age groups:

• Among adults ages 25 to 34, stroke death rates rose 8.3% over the past decade.
• Among people older than 85, they jumped 18.2%.

A new way of looking at your health

This year's report highlights cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a health condition where heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity overlap and affect each other. Nearly 90% of adults have some level of CKM syndrome.

It might sound complicated, but the idea is simple. Your heart, kidneys and metabolism don't work in isolation. When one struggles, the others often do too. CKM syndrome describes the overlap between heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity.

What's concerning is how early it starts—and how common it is. More than 80% of young and middle-aged adults in the U.S. already show signs of early CKM risk. Left unmanaged, CKM can lead to serious problems, including:

• Heart attack.
• Heart failure.
• Stroke.
• Kidney failure.

Early awareness—and monitoring—makes a real difference. Lifestyle changes, medications and working with your health care team can help slow or sometimes even reverse the damage.

Small steps matter

Your heart works hard for you every day. This month, consider what you can do to return the favor. Experts say as much as 80% of heart disease and stroke cases can be prevented through lifestyle changes. Ask your doctor for advice, and get started with small steps that address common risk factors.

Sources

• American Heart Association. "2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association." https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001412.
• American Heart Association. "2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update." https://www.heart.org/-/media/PHD-Files-2/Science-News/2/2026-Heart-and-Stroke-Stat-Update/2026-AHA-Statistics-Overview-PDF.pdf.
• American Heart Association. "Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health." https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic-syndrome.
• American Heart Association. "Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics: 2026 Update." https://iprsoftwaremedia.com/67/files/20260/Infographic%20-%202026%20Heart%20and%20Stroke%20Disease%20Statistical%20Update.jpg.
• American Heart Association. "Heart Disease, Stroke Deaths Down, Yet Still Kill More in U.S. Than Any Other Cause." https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-disease-stroke-deaths-down-yet-still-kill-more-in-u-s-than-any-other-cause.
• American Heart Association. "What is Cardiovascular Disease?" https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease.
• American Heart Association. "What the Latest Heart Disease and Stroke Numbers Mean for Your Health.” https://www.heart.org/en/news/2026/01/21/what-the-latest-heart-disease-and-stroke-numbers-mean-for-your-health.