A recent study conducted by Northwestern Medicine and published in JAMA has revealed alarming statistics about the risk of cardiovascular disease in young adults in the United States. The study found that 1 in 7 U.S. adults between the ages of 30 and 59 years have a high 30-year risk for cardiovascular disease.
The lead author of the study, Sadiya Khan, emphasized the importance of assessing both short-term and long-term risk for cardiovascular disease in young adults, especially in primary care settings. Traditionally, healthcare providers have focused on calculating a patient’s 10-year risk of developing heart disease. However, this study highlights the need to consider a person’s long-term risk as well.
Currently, more than 28 million adults in the U.S. are living with cardiovascular disease, a number that is expected to rise. The study’s findings suggest that relying solely on short-term risk assessments may not accurately reflect a younger individual’s risk of developing heart disease over time.
The research team used the American Heart Association’s Predicting Risk of CVD EVENTs (PREVENT) model to estimate the number of U.S. adults with high 10- and 30-year cardiovascular disease risk. The study included over 9,700 participants aged 30 to 59 years without existing cardiovascular disease.
Participants were categorized into three groups based on their 10-year and 30-year risk scores: low short-term and long-term risk, low short-term but high long-term risk, or high short-term risk. The results showed that while most adults in this age group had a low 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease, approximately 1 in 7 adults had a high 30-year risk.
Khan emphasized the importance of considering both short-term and long-term risk assessments when evaluating a patient’s risk of developing heart disease. Early interventions and preventive measures can be crucial in improving cardiovascular outcomes for individuals identified as having a high 30-year risk.
Future studies will focus on identifying strategies to reduce risk in those with an increased 30-year risk and explore interventions such as physical activity and dietary changes to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study, titled “Discordance of 10- and 30-Year Predicted Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in US Adults,” was published in JAMA. For more information, you can access the study via DOI: 10.1001/jama.2025.2868.
This important research sheds light on the need for a comprehensive approach to assessing cardiovascular risk in young adults and underscores the importance of early intervention and preventive measures to combat heart disease.
