J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2026 Feb 1;27(2):161-170. doi: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000001838. Epub 2026 Jan 22.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a leading cause of illness and death worldwide, posing a significant global health challenge. This study aims to examine the global impact of IHD over the past three decades, analyze regional and sociodemographic disparities, and predict future trends from 2022 to 2036.
METHODS: Data from the GBD 2021 covering 371 diseases across 204 countries were analyzed. Regions were categorized based on the Sociodemographic Index (SDI) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Future projections were made using an autoregressive integrated moving average model.
RESULTS: From 1990 to 2021, the global IHD incidence more than doubled, increasing by 102%, reaching 31.87 million cases in 2021. Women experienced a faster increase (106%) than men (98%). Men represented 56.35% of cases, while women accounted for 43.65%. The highest incidence was observed in individuals aged 50-69 years, with age-standardized incidence rates of 372.90 per 100 000, higher in men (450.39) than women (301.5). IHD-related deaths in 2021 totaled 8.99 million, a 68% increase since 1990, with men accounting for 55.64%. Global DALYs were 188.36 million, with men contributing 61.04%. Regional disparities were notable, with the Middle SDI region seeing the highest growth in IHD burden. Future projections indicate a 0.30-fold increase in IHD incidence from 2022 to 2036, with more pronounced growth in women.
CONCLUSION: IHD remains a major global health issue, with increasing rates in low-income and middle-income countries. Targeted interventions focused on prevention, early detection, and management, particularly for women and older populations, are essential to addressing this growing burden.
PMID:41703413 | DOI:10.2459/JCM.0000000000001838