Heart Disease and Stroke Expected to Rise Significantly Among Younger Women

Obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure are fueling increases in cardiovascular disease, even among much younger women, the American Heart Association says.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Without better prevention and early detection, the number of women living with cardiovascular disease will increase substantially in the coming decades, the American Heart Association said. The percentage of women with at least one type of cardiovascular disease is projected to climb by more than a third, from 10.7% in 2020 to 14.4% in 2050. The most common forms are coronary heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.

Why it matters

Cardiovascular disease is already the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. Rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, especially among younger women and girls, are driving these projected increases, putting an entire generation at risk of developing these conditions at much younger ages.

The details

The American Heart Association's forecast is based on historical trends from national health surveys and census population growth estimates. Among adult women, the rate of coronary heart disease is projected to increase from 6.9% in 2020 to 8.2% in 2050, heart failure from 2.5% to 3.6%, stroke from 4.1% to 6.7%, and atrial fibrillation from 1.6% to 2.3%. Obesity rates among women are expected to climb from 43.9% to 61.2%, and diabetes from 14.9% to 25.3%.

  • The data used in the forecast came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2015-2020 and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2015-2019.
  • The American Heart Association's forecast extends these historical trends to 2050.

The players

American Heart Association

A non-profit organization focused on cardiovascular health and disease prevention.

Dr. Stacey Rosen

Volunteer president of the American Heart Association and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women's Health at Northwell Health in New York City.

Dr. Karen Joynt Maddox

Cardiologist and professor of medicine and public health at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, who wrote the scientific statement.

Norrina Bai Allen

Epidemiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and director of the Institute for Public Health and Medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This forecast is a call to action to rethink prevention and early detection of cardiovascular disease, especially among younger women and girls. Addressing the rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure is crucial to reversing these troubling trends and improving long-term heart health for women.