A new study reveals a troubling reversal in heart disease mortality among older Americans, with minority communities experiencing the steepest increases. After two decades of decline, deaths from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) began rising again in 2019, particularly among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations.
Researchers analyzed over 9 million deaths from 1999 to 2021 using CDC data. They found that ASCVD-related mortality dropped sharply until 2014, then stabilized, but surged between 2019 and 2021. The increase was most pronounced among Hispanic or Latino adults, whose death rate jumped from 572.7 to 718.3 per 100,000—a 13.55% annual rise. Non-Hispanic Black adults followed with a 10.45% increase, and Asian and Pacific Islanders saw a 9.38% rise.
Non-Hispanic White adults still had the highest overall death rate, but the recent spike among minority groups highlights widening disparities. “Social determinants of health, including higher uninsurance rates and limited access to care, aggravate these disparities,” the authors wrote. Minority patients are more likely to receive care at lower-quality institutions and face delays in treatment.
Rural areas also saw higher mortality than urban ones, driven by declining healthcare infrastructure and fewer providers. States like West Virginia and Oklahoma had rates more than double those in Hawaii and Connecticut.
The study links the post-2019 surge to COVID-19’s impact on cardiovascular health and disruptions in routine care. It calls for targeted public health efforts to improve access and equity in heart disease prevention and treatment.
See: “Rising atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease–related mortality among older adults in the United States” (June 4, 2025)
