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. 2024 Mar 1;10(2):143-153.
doi: 10.1093/ehjqcco/qcad033.

Burden of cardiovascular disease among elderly: based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Chunrun Qu  1   2   3 , Sheng Liao  1   2   3 , Jingdan Zhang  3 , Hui Cao  4 , Hao Zhang  1   5 , Nan Zhang  6 , Luzhe Yan  3 , Gaoyuan Cui  3 , Peng Luo  7 , Qingwei Zhang  8 , Quan Cheng  1   2
Affiliations

Burden of cardiovascular disease among elderly: based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Chunrun Qu et al. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. .

Abstract

Background: The burden of elderly cardiovascular disease (CVD) has received increasing attention with population ageing worldwide.

Aims: We reported on the global CVD burden in elderly individuals over 70, 1990-2019.

Methods and results: Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, elderly CVD burden data were analysed. Temporal burden trends were analysed with the joinpoint model. The slope index and concentration index were used to evaluate health inequality. From 1990 to 2019, the global elderly CVD incidence, prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life year rates generally decreased. However, the current burden remains high. The rapid growth in burden in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia is a cause for concern. Countries with a higher socio-demographic index (SDI) have generally seen a greater decrease in burden, while countries with a lower SDI have generally experienced increases or smaller declines in burden. Health inequality analysis confirmed that the burden was gradually concentrating towards countries with a low SDI. Among the different CVDs, ischaemic heart disease causes the greatest burden in elderly individuals. Most CVD burdens increase with age, but stroke and peripheral vascular disease show markedly different distributional characteristics. In addition, the burden of hypertensive heart disease shows an unusual shift towards high-SDI countries. High systolic blood pressure was consistently the leading risk factor for CVD among elderly individuals.

Conclusion: The burden of CVD in older people remains severe and generally tends to shift to lower-SDI countries. Policymakers need to take targeted measures to reduce its harm.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Disease burden; Elder; Epidemiology; Health inequality.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Global trends for incidence rate, prevalence rate, death rate, and DALY rate (per 100 000 population) of elderly cardiovascular disease from 1990 to 2019. (a) Incidence rate; (b) prevalence rate; (c) death rate; and (d) DALY rate. Abbreviation: DALY, disability-adjusted life year.
Figure 2
Figure 2
National incidence rate, prevalence rate, death rate, and DALY rate (per 100 000 population) of elderly cardiovascular disease for both sexes combined in 2019. (a) Incidence rate; (b) prevalence rate; (c) death rate; and (d) DALY rate. Notes: The raw data are from GBD2019, and possible zoning issues are not our focus. Abbreviations: DALY, disability-adjusted life year; GBD, Global Burden of Disease.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SDI-related health inequality regression lines for the burden of cardiovascular disease in older people in 1990 and 2019. (a) Incidence rate; (b) Prevalence rate; (c) Death rate; and (d) DALY rate. Abbreviations: SDI, socio-demographic index; DALY, disability-adjusted life year.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean annualized rate of change in the number and rate of death in elderly cardiovascular disease due to various risk factors and their ranking change between sexes from 1990 to 2010 and 2010 to 2019. Notes: Solid lines indicate a rise, and dotted lines indicate a fall. Yellow for behavioural risks, blue for metabolic risks, and red for environmental/occupational risks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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