Heart disease fatalities shift as heart attacks decline

Heart disease deaths have decreased overall in the last 50 years, but the types of heart disease causing fatalities are shifting, according to a new study. Deaths from heart attacks have dropped significantly, while deaths from heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertensive heart disease have increased. The study, published in the *Journal of the American Heart Association*, analyzed data from 1970 to 2022. It found a 66% decrease in overall heart disease deaths and a nearly 90% drop in heart attack deaths. However, deaths from other heart conditions rose substantially. Researchers attribute these changes to advances in prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. They also note rising risk factors like obesity and diabetes, highlighting the need to address chronic heart conditions as the population ages.