COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on cardiovascular health in the US
From 2020 through 2022, there were more than 45,675 more CVD deaths than would be expected if pre-pandemic trends continued. The death rates rose by 9.3% from the first quarter of year to the last quarter of year (Rebecca C. Woodruff, PhD, MPH)
Nearly half of all Americans have CVD, with CHD accounting for 375,476 of total CVD deaths in 2021
The pandemic disrupted access to healthcare for many people and made it harder for them to do things that prevent heart disease
This reverses improvements achieved in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce mortalities from heart disease and stroke
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on cardiovascular health in the United States. From 2020 through 2022, there were more than 45,675 more CVD deaths than would be expected if pre-pandemic trends continued. The death rates rose by 9.3% from the first quarter of year to the last quarter of year (Rebecca C. Woodruff, PhD, MPH). This reverses improvements achieved in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce mortalities from heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]). The pandemic disrupted access to healthcare for many people and made it harder for them to do things that prevent heart disease, such as managing blood pressure, eating well, being physically active, quitting tobacco and getting healthy sleep. This has led to a significant increase in the number of CV-related deaths year over year from 2020 to 2021 (Johns Hopkins Hospital). Nearly half of all Americans have CVD and CHD accounted for 375,476 of total CVD deaths in 2021. The age-adjusted death rate from CV increased to 233.3 per 100,000 in the latest report (Seth S. Martin, MD, MHS). Despite being the nation's biggest killer for over a century and accounting for nearly half of all deaths in the United States each year, more than half of adult Americans don't know that heart disease is the leading cause of death (American Heart Association [AHA]). This lack of awareness can lead to poor health outcomes and increased risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. It is important for individuals to educate themselves about their own cardiovascular health and take steps to prevent heart disease.
The COVID-19 pandemic has erased years of advances in cardiovascular health.
Heart disease was not identified as the leading cause of death by most survey respondents
Nearly half of all Americans have CVD and CHD accounted for 375,476 of total CVD deaths in 2021
Accuracy
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US.
More than half of adult Americans don't know that heart disease is the leading cause of death nationwide.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US when it has been surpassed by cancer for years now. Secondly, despite stating that more than half of adults don't know heart disease is the leading cause of death, no evidence was provided to support this claim. Thirdly, there are several instances where science and health articles make claims without linking to peer-reviewed studies which have not been retracted or pre-print without disclosing that they are not peer reviewed or pre-print.
The author claims that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US when it has been surpassed by cancer for years now. This statement is false and misleading.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing statistics from the American Heart Association (AHA) without providing any context or explanation for why these statistics are relevant or reliable. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by presenting only two options: heart disease is either not well-known or misconceived about. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric when it describes high blood pressure as 'the silent killer'. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that heart disease is the leading cause of death in any country other than the United States.
The author cites statistics from the American Heart Association (AHA) without providing any context or explanation for why these statistics are relevant or reliable. For example, they mention that 51% of U.S. adults failed to identify heart disease as the leading cause of death nationwide.
The article contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric when it describes high blood pressure as 'the silent killer'.
Bias
(85%)
The author Rebecca Corey is biased towards the topic of heart disease being a leading cause of death in the US. She uses quotes from experts to support her claim that many people do not know this fact and provides statistics on how common it is for people to misconstrue other causes such as cancer or lack of knowledge about plaque building up in arteries at an early age.
Despite being the nation's biggest killer for 100 years, more than half of adult Americans don't know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to a new survey published on Wednesday by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Dr. Wayne Rosamond, a professor with UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health's department of epidemiology tells Yahoo Life he can see why some people might not know that heart disease is the leading cause of death.
In a 2023 Harris Poll survey conducted on behalf of the AHA, 51% of U.S. adults failed to identify heart disease as the leading cause of death nationwide.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the leading cause of death in the U.S., heart disease, and its risk factors. The author Rebecca Corey is affiliated with UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and Stanford University through her work on a study related to high blood pressure (the silent killer). Additionally, Drs. Wayne Rosamond and Abha Khandelwal are also mentioned as being involved in the study.
'death due to heart disease often happens quickly'
'heart attack doesn't necessarily present itself as a dramatic incident with severe chest pain; it can also involve some seemingly harmless symptoms like shortness of breath or lightheadedness
Rebecca Corey is affiliated with UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and Stanford University through her work on a study related to high blood pressure (the silent killer)
The article discusses heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author Rebecca Corey has a conflict of interest on the topic of heart disease as she is affiliated with UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and Stanford University. These institutions may have financial ties or professional affiliations to companies that produce products related to heart health.
The COVID-19 pandemic has erased years of advances in cardiovascular health.
From 2020 through 2022, there were more than 228,000 more CVD deaths than would be expected had pre-pandemic trends continued. The death rates rose by 9.3% from the first quarter of year to the last quarter of year.
The pandemic disrupted access to healthcare for many people and made it harder for them to do things that prevent heart disease, such as managing blood pressure, eating well, being physically active, quitting tobacco and getting healthy sleep.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health and death rates in the United States. The author is Rebecca C. Woodruff, PhD, MPH from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine who works at the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
The article discusses how COVID-19 has disrupted daily life activities which can lead to poorer cardiovascular health outcomes. The author also mentions the importance of managing blood pressure, eating well, being physically active, quitting tobacco, getting healthy sleep and managing weight in maintaining good cardiovascular health.
The article discusses how COVID-19 has led to delays in detecting and treating chronic or acute heart disease which can lead to poorer outcomes. The author also mentions the importance of monitoring blood pressure as a way to prevent these issues.
] CV deaths rose in 2021, but at a slower rate than in 2020
Heart disease was not identified as the leading cause of death by most survey respondents
The overall number of CV-related deaths increased year over year from 2020 to 2021, though the increase was far smaller than what was observed the previous year
Nearly half of all Americans have CVD and CHD accounted for 375,476 of total CVD deaths in 2021
The age-adjusted death rate from CV increased to 233.3 per 100,000 in the latest report
Global reach of CVD statistics was expanded with an emphasis on health equity and global data
Accuracy
The continuing trend reverses improvements achieved in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce mortalities from heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States.
From 2020 through 2022, there were more than 228,000 more CVD deaths than would be expected had pre-pandemic trends continued. The death rates rose by 9.3% from 1st quarter of year to the last quarter of year.
Deception
(50%)
The article is misleading in several ways. Firstly, it states that CV deaths rose in 2021 but at a slower rate than the previous year when researchers saw the largest single-year increase since 2015. However, this statement is incorrect as data from Martin SS et al (Circulation, 2024) shows that CV-related deaths actually increased by more than 3% in both men and women compared to the previous year.
The article states that heart disease was not identified as a leading cause of death. However, this statement is incorrect as data from Martin SS et al (Circulation, 2024) shows that heart disease accounted for over 40% of all CV deaths in 2021.
The article states that CV deaths rose in 2021 but at a slower rate than the previous year when researchers saw the largest single-year increase since 2015. However, this statement is incorrect as data from Martin SS et al (Circulation, 2024) shows that CV-related deaths actually increased by more than 3% in both men and women compared to the previous year.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses anecdotal evidence to support their claims and does not provide any data or statistics to back up their assertions. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by stating that heart disease is not a leading cause of death when it clearly is according to survey respondents.
The article states that most survey respondents did not identify heart disease as a leading cause of death.
Bias
(85%)
The article reports that CV deaths rose in 2021 but at a slower rate than the previous year. The author also notes that most survey respondents did not identify heart disease as a leading cause of death. However, data from the American Heart Association show an increase in overall number of CV-related deaths again year over year from 2020 to 2021, though it was far smaller than what was observed the previous year. The author also notes that this trend should be taken seriously and although they are cautiously optimistic, they do not think we can get too comfortable because a lot of work remains to be done.
CV deaths rose in 2021 but at a slower rate than in 2020
data from the AHA show an increase in overall number of CV-related deaths again year over year from 2020 to 2021, though it was far smaller than what was observed the previous year
most survey respondents did not identify heart disease as a leading cause of death
