Global Effect of Modifiable Risk Factors on Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality

This population-based analysis from the Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium pooled individual-level data from 1,518,028 participants across 112 cohorts in 34 countries spanning 8 geographic regions. It assessed five modifiable risk factors body-mass index, systolic blood pressure, non-HDL cholesterol, current smoking, and diabetes and their aggregate and regional associations with 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and all-cause mortality. Key findings include:

• CVD Impact: 57.2% of incident CVD in women and 52.6% in men were attributable to the five risk factors.

• Mortality Impact: 22.2% of deaths in women and 19.1% in men were linked to the same risk factors.

• Systolic blood pressure was the largest global contributor to CVD incidence.

• Associations varied by region, sex, and age—e.g., smoking was more strongly linked to mortality in men, while diabetes contributed more significantly to mortality in women.

• Age-stratified hazard ratios showed declining impact of most risk factors with age, except BMI which remained constant. Authors advocate targeted regional strategies for risk reduction, and emphasize the utility of harmonized individual-level data in shaping global prevention priorities.

This population-based analysis from the Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium pooled individual-level data from 1,518,028 participants across 112 cohorts in 34 countries spanning 8 geographic regions. It assessed five modifiable risk factors body-mass index, systolic blood pressure, non-HDL cholesterol, current smoking, and diabetes and their aggregate and regional associations with 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and all-cause mortality. Key findings include:

• CVD Impact: 57.2% of incident CVD in women and 52.6% in men were attributable to the five risk factors.

• Mortality Impact: 22.2% of deaths in women and 19.1% in men were linked to the same risk factors.

• Systolic blood pressure was the largest global contributor to CVD incidence.

• Associations varied by region, sex, and age—e.g., smoking was more strongly linked to mortality in men, while diabetes contributed more significantly to mortality in women.

• Age-stratified hazard ratios showed declining impact of most risk factors with age, except BMI which remained constant. Authors advocate targeted regional strategies for risk reduction, and emphasize the utility of harmonized individual-level data in shaping global prevention priorities.