Why cardiovascular deaths had an alarming post-COVID spike

health

by alex mitchell

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Northwestern University shows an alarming number of cardiovascular-related deaths in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. , a 10-year downward trend has been reversed.

“We were concerned by emerging evidence that chronic disease outcomes worsened during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rebecca C. Woodruff. the CDC said.

“Unfortunately, this is the case for heart disease and stroke, which were improving before the pandemic.”

Researchers observed that the range of cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths from 2020 to 2022 increased by 228,000 deaths over the projected trend across all demographics.

The past two years have seen an increase of 9.3%, in sharp contrast to the 8.9% decline from 2010 to 2019.

Woodruff and her organization blamed the “enormous setback” brought on by the coronavirus.

Woodruff said COVID-19 has disrupted access to health care for many people, delaying treatment for chronic or acute heart problems.

COVID-19 has also made it more difficult for many people to eat well, sleep well, be active, and manage health aspects such as blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Worst of all, the CDC says new evidence shows a link between contracting COVID-19 and an increased risk of heart disease.

“Research to understand the drivers of increased CVD mortality has the potential to guide clinical and public health approaches to preventing, detecting, and treating CVD,” Woodruff added.

“Reprioritizing CVD prevention and control is an important first step.”