Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death worldwide. A long-term study with data from more than nine million people comes too the conclusion: There are four main risks for heart attacks and strokes.
Cardiovascular diseases such as a heart attack or stroke are the most common cause of death worldwide and also occur in hundreds of thousands every year in Germany. In this country, around 270,000 people suffer a stroke and around 300,000 a heart attack every year; the risk varies depending on age and gender.According to a big Study Though, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, four main risk factors are linked to 99 percent of heart disease and strokes.
The international research group led by Philip Greenland from Northwestern University in Illinois evaluated the health data of more than nine million adults in South Korea and the USA, which were observed over a period of up to two decades.
accordingly,almost every person who develops heart disease and suffers a serious heart attack or stroke has one of the four risk factors: high blood pressure,elevated cholesterol levels,high blood sugar levels or smoking. Taken together, they preceded 99 percent of all cardiovascular events in the long-term study.
High risk of high blood pressure
This was evident even in the population group with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease: even in women under 60, more than 95 percent of heart attacks or strokes could be traced back to one of these pre-existing risk factors.
High blood pressure was most often associated with cardiovascular events, meaning various diseases of the heart and blood vessels. If blood flow to the heart or brain is impaired, a heart attack or stroke can occur. In both the United States and South Korea, more than 93 percent of subjects who suffered a heart attack, stroke or heart failure previously
Stroke risk Increasing Among Younger Adults, New Study Finds
A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals a concerning trend: stroke rates are rising considerably among younger and middle-aged adults in the United States. The research, analyzing data from over 3.9 million individuals hospitalized for stroke between 2018 and 2022, indicates a marked increase in stroke incidence across all age groups under 65, with the most considerable rise observed in those aged 35-44.
The study found that between 2018 and 2022, stroke rates increased by 28% in adults aged 35-44, 25% in those aged 45-54, and 14% in those aged 55-64. While stroke remains more common in older adults, these findings highlight a growing public health concern.
According to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Germany, the risk of developing stroke within the next ten years is significantly age-dependent. For individuals aged 65 to 79, the risk is approximately 10.8 percent, compared to just 0.5 percent for those aged 18 to 44. The RKI also notes that men are more frequently affected by stroke than women, and individuals with a prior stroke history face a substantially elevated risk of recurrence – around 40 percent of stroke patients experience another stroke. The RKI identifies nutrition and level of education as contributing factors to stroke risk. https://www.gbe.rki.de/DE/Themen/EinflussfaktorenAufDieGesundheit/Erkrankungsrisiko/Risikoscores/HerzKreislaufRisiko/herzKreislaufRisiko_node.html?darstellung=0&kennzahl=1&zeit=2022&geschlecht=0&standardisierung=0
The study authors attribute the increase in stroke among younger adults to rising rates of risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and smoking. these factors, often linked to lifestyle and socioeconomic conditions, are becoming increasingly prevalent in younger populations.
Cardiologist Neha Pagidipati from Duke University, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the importance of early risk factor management in an accompanying editorial. https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.08.030 She stated that controlling health risks proactively is crucial to preventing serious and potentially fatal consequences.
This research underscores the need for increased awareness of stroke risk factors and preventative measures, even in younger adults. Early detection and management of conditions like hypertension and diabetes, alongside lifestyle modifications such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, are vital for reducing the growing burden of stroke.
date:2025-10-14 00:35:00