Heart Disease and Stroke Deaths in the US: Progress and Initiatives

Strategic Insights -

The American Heart Association reports that every 34 seconds, someone in the US dies of cardiovascular disease (CVD), highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated approach to care. To address this, the AHA is recognizing nearly 5,000 healthcare organizations for their commitment to improving health outcomes for individuals affected by heart disease, stroke, and related conditions. This marks a significant increase from last year, demonstrating growing momentum in the effort to save lives.

Key Takeaways:

  • The American Heart Association is recognizing 4,859 healthcare and emergency response organizations nationwide for their continued commitment to improving health outcomes for individuals affected by heart disease, stroke, and related conditions.
  • This represents an increase of over 1,700 organizations compared to last year, demonstrating growing momentum in the effort to save lives.
  • The recognition is tied to the AHA's Get With The Guidelines program and other quality improvement initiatives, which help care teams use the latest evidence-based science to guide their treatment decisions.
  • Among this year's awardees, the Association is recognizing 158 hospitals with a new Commitment to Quality award, which highlights high performance across three or more clinical areas in the Get With The Guidelines program.
  • Hospitals earning the Commitment to Quality award demonstrate a comprehensive approach to quality improvement for patient care.
  • The programs recognize hospitals for conditions including stroke, heart failure, heart attacks, cardiac arrest, Type 2 diabetes, and atrial fibrillation.
  • Award levels range from bronze to gold plus, depending on how long and how well a hospital meets key measures.

Statistics:

  • Every 34 seconds, someone in the US dies of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the US, respectively, according to the American Heart Association 2025 Statistical Update.
  • Over 3,500 people in the US suffer a stroke each day.
  • Implementing evidence-based guidelines can help patients recover faster, avoid complications, and reduce their chances of needing to return to the hospital.
  • The Get With The Guidelines program has been instrumental in driving progress, with over 14,500 total awards given out in 2025.

Sources:

  • American Heart Association. (2025). Someone in the United States dies of cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds, on average. [1]
  • Lloyd-Jones, D. (2025, February 25). American Heart Association - Release. [2]
  • American Heart Association. (2025). 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association. Table/chapter. Circulation, 151(8), e41--e660. [3]