Heart age disparities: U.S. adults face hidden cardiovascular risks

• • Majority of U.S. adults have hearts older than their chronological age, with gaps exceeding a decade for high-risk groups.

• • Black and Hispanic men face the largest discrepancies, with heart ages up to 8.5 years older than their actual age.

• • A free heart age calculator translates complex risk factors into an “age” metric to improve patient understanding of cardiovascular risks.

• • Socioeconomic disparities exacerbate heart age gaps, particularly among those with lower education and income levels.

• • Researchers stress that the tool must complement—but not replace—professional medical advice for effective prevention.

Most U.S. adults unknowingly carry a ticking time bomb: hidden heart ages that eclipse their chronological years, often by a full decade. A groundbreaking study published in JAMA Cardiology reveals that 70% of U.S. adults aged 30-79 have cardiovascular systems biologically older than their actual ages, with stark disparities along racial, gender and socioeconomic lines. The findings underscore urgent calls for tailored preventive care and mark a seismic shift in how health professionals communicate risk.

Disparities in heart age gaps: Health inequity meets biology

The study, analyzing data from over 14,000 U.S. adults, illuminated alarming divides. For men, average heart age surpassed chronological age by seven years—reaching 56.7 for a 49.7-year-old male cohort. Among Black men, this gap surged to 8.5 years; Hispanic men lagged by 7.9 years. Even Asian and white men faced gaps of 6.7 and 6.4 years, respectively. Women fared slightly better but were not immune: Black women’s hearts registered 6.2 years older than their true ages, while Hispanic, white and Asian women experienced gaps of 4.8, 3.7 and 2.8 years.

Education and income further magnified the risks. Nearly one-third of men with a high school education or less had heart ages older than their chronological age by over a decade, a divide widening among Black or Hispanic respondents. “We’ve long known that systemic inequities affect health outcomes, but this study quantifies how deeply they shape the very biology of the heart,” said Sadiya Khan, the study’s senior author and a Northwestern Medicine cardiovascular epidemiologist.

A new language of risk: Framing health with “heart age”

To combat underdiagnosis, the researchers introduced an online “heart age” calculator, reframing traditional risk percentages into an intuitive age-based metric. The tool factors in blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes status and smoking history—mirroring American Heart Association guidelines—while using the updated Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events (PREVENT) equations.

“The phrase ‘heart age’ is more than semantics,” said Dr. Neil D. Shah, a cardiologist unaffiliated with the study. “Telling someone their heart is a decade older than they are instantaneously primes the brain to act. It’s visceral, unlike abstract statistics like ‘8% risk over 10 years.’” The European Society of Cardiology endorsed this approach in 2021, but the U.S. had lagged in adapting equations to modern risk factors. Khan’s recalibrated model bridges this gap.

Why framing risk as age matters now

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., despite decades of medical advances. The Framingham Heart Study, launched in 1948, pioneered risk assessment but relied on static, percentage-based models. “People ignore ‘low 10-year risk’ even if they face lifelong harm,” Khan explained. “This tool could be a lifeline for younger adults, who often dismiss their heart health.”

The study coincides with a public health paradox: 48% of Americans could use nutritional heart support but don’t get it. “We’re missing opportunities to intervene before damage occurs,” Khan added, noting plans to test whether “heart age” messaging boosts preventive medication adherence and lifestyle changes like diet or exercise.

Toward a healthier heart: More than numbers

While the calculator shines a light on risks, researchers caution against oversimplification. “It’s not a crystal ball,” cautioned Shah. “Family history, air quality and mental health—these factors don’t magically disappear. The calculator’s power lies in sparking conversations between doctors and patients, not replacing them.”

As the medical community rethinks risk communication, consumers are urged to engage: use the calculator as a starting point, not a conclusion. With heart disease claiming 865 lives a day, this innovation could transform how millions confront their most vital organ’s ticking clock.

Supporting risk reduction: The new heart age equation framework

The PREVENT tool considers:

• • Chronological age

• • Total cholesterol levels

• • Blood pressure

• • Smoking history

• • Diabetes status

This framework, accessible online, aims to simplify a daunting process while emphasizing the role of early intervention.

Bridging the gap—for hearts and systems

The study doesn’t just digitize risk—it challenges a health system prone to overlooking communities of color and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. “If someone’s heart is aging faster, their care needs accelerate too,” Khan remarked. “This tool is just the first step in making sure all patients get the support they need.”

As clinicians begin integrating “heart age” into practice, the broader message resonates: the health of one’s cardiovascular system isn’t sealed in stone. With knowledge, equity and action, millions can slow their hearts’ march toward aging—and live years healthier as a result.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

JAMANetwork.com

Northwestern.edu

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Source: https://naturalblaze.com/2025/09/heart-age-disparities-u-s-adults-face-hidden-cardiovascular-risks.html