Prevention & lipidsResearch article
Social Drivers of Health Advisory
- Projection study
Authors' conclusion
Total CVD prevalence is projected to increase from 2020 to 2050 across education, insurance, and income categories with greatest increases occurring in those with a college degree. However, multiple risk factors, most CVD conditions, and total CVD prevalence are generally projected to be highest among populations with less education, public insurance, and lower income compared to respective SDOH categories. Efforts to address SDOH should be prioritized to mitigate the forecast.
Study context
- Population
- United States population, by social drivers of health (education, insurance, income), 2020 to 2050
- Comparison
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) projections according to education, insurance, and income
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Risk factors and individual CVD conditions · 2050
- Most risk factors and individual CVD conditions estimated to worsen and remain the worst for those with less education, Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, and lower income
Further findings
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| Total CVD prevalence, Medicare beneficiaries · 2050 · highest prevalence of total CVD throughout the era | Medicare beneficiaries 86% |
Total CVD prevalence by education · 2020 to 2050
- Increase for college graduates
- 10.0 percentage points higher
- Similar prevalence across education levels by 2050
Total CVD prevalence by income
- Increases projected to be similar across income categories
Original publication
Social Drivers of Health Advisory. JACC Adv. Published 5 August 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.103101
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it