Cardiovascular disease has replaced cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the United States, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. The statement, published today in the Association's flagship journal, Circulation, highlights that rising rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risk factors—often beginning earlier in life for Hispanic people—are driving this shift. The finding has significant implications for public health, as Hispanic people represent nearly one in five of the U.S. population and are the nation's largest ethnic minority group.
The statement emphasizes that social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors contribute to persistent disparities in cardiovascular health. "Hispanic populations in the U.S. are incredibly diverse even within their own communities with differences in genetic ancestry, language, cultural traditions and social experiences that can significantly influence cardiovascular health," said Johanna Contreras, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, chair of the scientific statement's volunteer writing group and director of the Division of Heart Failure at Mount Sinai Health System in New York. "Yet Hispanic people remain underrepresented overall in the research that guides prevention and treatment strategies."
Data from the statement reveal stark disparities. Nearly 46% of Hispanic adults have obesity, with the highest rates among Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage groups. Type 2 diabetes affects 15.5% of Hispanic adults—nearly twice the prevalence among white adults—and is highest among Mexican and Puerto Rican individuals. About 44% have high blood pressure, yet awareness, treatment, and control rates remain lower than among white adults. Hispanic adults are diagnosed with heart failure about 8 to 9 years younger and experience a first stroke about 6 to 8 years younger than white adults. Only about 1 in 5 Hispanic adults achieves ideal cardiovascular health as defined by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8™ framework.
Social and economic barriers also play a major role. Approximately 17% of Hispanics live below the federal poverty threshold, compared with 8.2% of white adults. About 41% of all Hispanic adults and 66% of older Hispanic adults have low or limited health literacy, compared with 9% of white adults. In 2023, approximately 20% of Hispanic adults remained uninsured, compared with 6.4% of white adults. "Many Hispanic adults face obstacles that extend far beyond the doctor's office," Contreras said. "Limited health insurance coverage, language differences, food insecurity, environmental exposures and concerns related to immigration status can make it more difficult to prevent disease, manage chronic conditions and receive timely treatment."
The statement calls for culturally tailored prevention strategies, equitable access to care, and greater representation of Hispanic populations in cardiovascular research. It recommends trusted community partnerships in churches, markets, and Spanish-language media; improved access to bilingual health education and community health workers; and more detailed data collection across Hispanic heritage backgrounds. "Raising awareness about these disparities is important, but awareness without access is not enough," Contreras said. "Reducing cardiovascular disease among Hispanic populations demands action at every level."
As the Hispanic population continues to grow and age, improving cardiovascular health in these communities will be critical to the nation's overall health. The statement authors emphasize that meaningful progress will require collaboration among healthcare systems, researchers, policymakers, community organizations, and families to ensure that every person has access to prevention, treatment, and support that reflects their culture, language, and lived experiences. For readers, this news underscores the importance of regular heart health screenings, culturally informed conversations with healthcare providers, and community-level efforts to address social determinants of health.
