According to a study from the CDC, in the U.S., 3 out of 4 adults have a predicted heart age 5 years or older than their actual age. Using findings from the Framingham Heart Study and data collected from every U.S. state, CDC projections show that about 69 million adults who haven’t had a heart attack or stroke have, on average, an “older” heart by 7 years.
In men, the average is 8 years older; in women, 5 years. African Americans have an average of 11 years older for both men and women. Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Alabama have the highest percentage of adults with heart ages 5 or more years older than their actual age. Utah, Colorado, California, Massachusetts, and Hawaii have the lowest percentage.
The heart age concept, CDC says, was created to more effectively communicate a person’s risk of dying of a heart attack or a stroke and show ways to lower the risk. CDC advises using calculators, such as the one it provides (www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heartage.htm) or others that are recommended by national guidelines, to assess cardiovascular risk and heart age for patients aged 30 to 74 years and then discussing preventive steps.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC Website. http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/heartage/index.html. Updated September 1, 2015. Accessed October 27, 2015.
Most Americans’ hearts are older than their age [news release].
Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; September 1, 2015.