FAQ: Declining Heart Health in Older Adults with Cardiovascular Diseases

What is the main topic of this research?

The study examines the decline in cardiovascular health among older U.S. adults (age 65+) with certain cardiovascular diseases, specifically high blood pressure, stroke, or heart failure, using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 health metrics.

Why is this research significant?

It establishes a pre-pandemic baseline for cardiovascular health in older adults, highlighting worsening trends that could inform future health interventions and pandemic impact assessments.

How was cardiovascular health measured in the study?

Health was measured using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 metrics, which score eight components (diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep, BMI, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) on a 0-100 scale, averaged for an overall score.

Who was involved in the study?

Researchers analyzed data from 3,050 U.S. adults aged 65+ from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with co-author James M. Walker from Northwestern University leading the analysis.

When did this research take place?

The study used data from 2013 to 2018 and was published on August 20, 2025, in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Where is this research applicable?

The findings are based on U.S. national survey data and are relevant to older adult populations in the U.S. with cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, or stroke.

What were the key findings regarding health declines?

Cardiovascular health dropped significantly among older adults with high blood pressure, stroke, or heart failure, and the health gap between those with and without cardiovascular disease was largely due to differences in blood pressure and physical activity.

What should people know or do based on these findings?

Older adults with cardiovascular diseases should focus on improving blood pressure control and increasing physical activity, as these were key factors in the declining health scores observed.

How does this research compare to previous studies?

This study provides a new pre-pandemic baseline for cardiovascular health in older adults, which can be used to assess changes during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing a gap in prior research.