Report on cardiovascular health and diseases in China 2021: an updated summary

Abstract

In 2019, cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for 46.74% and 44.26% of all deaths in rural and urban areas, respectively. Two out of every five deaths were attributed to CVD. It is estimated that approximately 330 million individuals in China are affected by CVD. Among them, there are 13 million cases of stroke, 11.4 million cases of coronary heart disease, 5 million cases of pulmonary heart disease, 8.9 million cases of heart failure, 4.9 million cases of atrial fibrillation, 2.5 million cases of rheumatic heart disease, 2 million cases of congenital heart disease, 45.3 million cases of lower extremity artery disease, and 245 million cases of hypertension. With the dual challenges of population aging and a steady increase in the prevalence of metabolic risk factors, the burden of CVD in China is expected to continue rising. Consequently, new demands arise for CVD prevention, treatment, and the allocation of medical resources. Emphasizing primary prevention to reduce disease prevalence, increasing the allocation of medical resources for CVD emergency and critical care, and providing rehabilitation services and secondary prevention to reduce the risk of recurrence, rehospitalization, and disability among CVD survivors are of paramount importance. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes affect millions of individuals in China. Since blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar levels often rise insidiously, vascular disease and serious events such as myocardial infarction and stroke occur by the time they are detected in this population. Therefore, it is crucial to implement strategies and measures to prevent risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Furthermore, greater efforts should be directed towards assessing cardiovascular health status and conducting research on early pathological changes to enhance prevention, treatment, and understanding of CVD.

Figure 1

The trend of animal food intake by Chinese residents from 1992 to 2012.

Figure 2

The trend of energy contribution from carbohydrate, protein and fat by Chinese residents from 1982 to 2012.

Figure 3

Estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity and medical costs due to overweight and obesity in Chinese adults ( ≥ 18 years old) in 2030.

Figure 4

The awareness rate, treatment rate, control rate and treatment control rate of hypertension in different age groups in China Hypertension Survey (CHS).

Figure 5

Thirteen-year changes in blood lipid levels in Chinese adults aged ≥ 18 years.

Figure 6

10-year changes in blood lipid levels in children and adolescents aged 6-18 in Beijing.

Figure 7

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in China.

Figure 8

Changes in cardiovascular mortality rates of urban and rural residents in China, 2000 to 2019 (A) and constituent ratios of major causes of death of urban and rural residents in China, 2019(B).

Figure 9

Mortality of major diseases in rural (A) and urban (B) residents in China from 2000 to 2019.

Figure 10

Trends of CAD mortality (A) and acute myocardial infarction mortality (B) in urban and rural China from 2002 to 2019.

Figure 11

Trends of crude mortality from cerebrovascular disease in urban and rural residents in China from 2003 to 2019.

Figure 12

Proportion of the etiology for valvular heart disease among age stratifications.

Figure 13

Proportions of heart and large vessels surgery in 714 Chinese hospitals in 2020.

Figure 14

The number of hospitalized children with cardiomyopathy in 33 hospitals in China from 2006 to 2018.

Figure 15

2007-2016 hospitalization rate of venous thromboembolism (A) and hospitalization mortality (B) in China.

Figure 16

Papers of cardiovascular basic research published by Chinease who is the the lead author or corresponding author from 2000 to 2021.

Figure 17

Changing trend of the number of discharged patients with CVD in China from 1980 to 2019.

Figure 18

Changing trend of the number of discharged patients with various major cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in China from 1980 to 2019.

Figure 19

Changing trend of the total hospitalization expenses for acute myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction from 2004 to 2019 (current year's prices).

Figure 20

The average growth rate per year of the total hospitalization expenses, as well as the average hospitalization expenses per time, for acute myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction from 2004 to 2019.

Figure 21

Changing trend of the average hospitalization expenses per time for acute myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction from 2004 to 2019 (current year's prices).