In 2015, 41.5 percent of the U.S. population had at least one facet of cardiovascular disease (CVD). These include elevated blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, or atrial fibrillation. In 2035, the number of Americans with CVD is projected to rise to 131.2 million, or 45 percent of the total U.S. population.1
Congestive heart failure remains the leading cause of hospitalization in those aged 65 and older. Health care costs for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary heart disease (CHD), account for more than $500 billion each year. And while cancer has been increasing as a leading cause of total death, heart disease remains at the top of the list, as the number one cause of death in the U.S. in 2020.
Appropriate care for cardiovascular disease and infarction means timely care. These patients often present with high acuity and the laboratory's role in detecting and monitoring the underlying disease is essential. As many as 5% of patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are misdiagnosed in the emergency department and discharged. The laboratory's role is especially important in individuals with AMI who present with AMI symptoms but have a nondiagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG).
