Was heart disease the second leading cause of death in the US in 2021?
In 2021, heart disease remained the second leading cause of death in the United States. This ranking placed it directly behind COVID-19, which was the top cause of death that year. Cancer followed as the third leading cause of death.
What the research says
A specific report on 2021 mortality data confirms that heart disease held the second position among causes of death in the US 5. This report notes that COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death, meaning heart disease was the only major cause ranking higher than cancer for that year 5.
Other studies provide context on heart disease trends. One analysis looked at death rates for heart disease and cancer in US adults aged 45 to 64 from 1999 to 2018 4. Another study examined racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosed heart disease among US adults 6. These sources help frame the broader picture of heart disease prevalence and mortality, even though the specific 2021 ranking comes from the report on overall death rates 5.
What to ask your doctor
- How does my personal risk for heart disease compare to the national statistics from 2021?
- What are the current leading causes of death for people in my specific age group?
- Are there new treatments available for heart disease that were not common in 2021?
- How can I lower my risk of heart disease based on the latest medical guidelines?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Cardiology and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.