Behind the Science: Excess Cardiovascular Mortality Among Black Americans | JACC

Listen in to JACC's perspective on our newest research, published on June 19 and featuring co-authors Adith Arun, BS, Clyde W. Yancy, MD, MSc. We present readers with another update in our Data Report Series, evaluating trends in excess cardiovascular mortality among Black Americans compared with White Americans from 2000 to 2024 and persistent disparities in outcomes. While modest improvements were observed in 2024 after pandemic-related increases, progress remains uneven, with heart failure mortality continuing to rise—especially among women. The overall burden remains high, with more than one million excess years of potential life lost annually and hypertension as the leading contributor. Long-term patterns show that earlier gains in reducing disparities have stalled, with current gaps resembling those seen in the mid-2010s. The findings emphasize that advances in cardiovascular care have not translated into equitable outcomes and call for sustained structural and policy interventions. #jacc #jaccjournals #jaccdatareport