Cardiovascular health is a rapidly evolving field, and healthcare administrators and clinicians must take proactive measures to ensure positive outcomes for patients. With new risk factors emerging, advancements in proactive cardiac care offer physicians and healthcare administrators more opportunities to identify CVD risks and support patients in a way that aligns with the needs of care communities.
The complexity of modern cardiovascular health has led to significant improvements in recent years. In the United States, the age-standardized death rate from CVD has decreased from over 500 in 1950 to just over 130 in 2021. This progress is largely due to advancements in treatment and prevention strategies. However, challenges remain as CVD is expected to become more serious and widespread in the future, particularly in low and middle-income countries, where 80% of cardiovascular deaths occur.
Social determinants of health have been identified as risk factors in cardiovascular disease. Low socioeconomic status, limited educational and economic opportunities, lack of support from peers for healthier lifestyle choices, and increased psychosocial stressors all contribute to this risk factor. Addressing these social determinants will be crucial in reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the future. Health system leaders must enable clinicians to meet patients where they are by understanding population health trends, the role providers can play, and how technology can assist in identifying and addressing CVD risks early on. Personalized approaches should also be integrated to tailor interventions and treatment plans to individual patients’ unique needs and circumstances.
In conclusion, healthcare administrators and clinicians must take specific actions to make progress towards improving cardiovascular health outcomes for their patients. By exploring the complexity of modern cardiovascular health, significant improvements have been made in recent years. However, challenges remain as CVD is expected to become more serious and widespread in the future. Addressing social determinants of health will be crucial in reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the future while integrating personalized approaches will help tailor interventions and treatment plans for each individual patient’s unique needs
