Prevention & lipidsResearch article

Global, regional and national burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to suboptimal diet, 1990–2023: a Global Burden of Disease study

Nat MedPublished

  • Global Burden of Disease study
  • 204 countries
  • 1990–2023

Authors' conclusion

By disentangling dietary risk factors, we identified the portion of IHD burden directly modifiable through food interventions.

Study context

Population
Global population, 204 countries, 1990–2023 (GBD 2023)204 countries
Outcome
Mortality and disability-adjusted life years from diet-related ischemic heart disease

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Ischemic heart disease burden attributable to suboptimal diet · 2023

Ischemic heart disease deaths attributable to suboptimal diet

4.06 million (95% UI 0.74-6.22)

Ischemic heart disease disability-adjusted life years attributable to suboptimal diet

96.84 million (95% UI 18.82-142.52)

Decrease in global age-standardized death rate of diet-attributable ischemic heart disease, 1990 to 2023

43.92% (95% UI 34.44-53.23)

Further findings

Ischemic heart disease deaths per 100,000 population, by dietary factor (primary contributors)

Low intake of nuts and seeds
9.87 (95% UI 2.84-17.12)
Low whole grains
9.22 (95% UI 4.73-13.67)
Low fruits
7.25 (95% UI 1.54-13.34)
High sodium
7.15 (95% UI 0.92-17.97)

Burden by sociodemographic index

Burden particularly pronounced in low- and middle-sociodemographic index countries

Original publication

Global, regional and national burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to suboptimal diet, 1990–2023: a Global Burden of Disease study. Nat Med. Published 30 March 2026. doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04250-8

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it