Preventing Heart Disease: A Proactive Approach to Modifiable Risk

A PROACTIVE CARE model for cardiovascular health should focus on addressing risk before it becomes disease. The majority of deaths from ischemic heart disease are driven by modifiable factors, which reinforces the opportunity to intervene earlier and more effectively. High cholesterol, along with risks such as tobacco use and environmental exposures, continues to account for a significant share of outcomes. While meaningful progress has been made over time, including reductions in deaths linked to certain risk factors, the overall burden remains substantial. This highlights a clear need to shift from reactive treatment to prevention and risk reduction at scale. Employers and healthcare leaders should prioritize strategies that identify and manage these risks early. This includes supporting lifestyle change, improving access to preventive care, and aligning benefits to drive engagement before conditions worsen. A more integrated and proactive approach can lead to better health outcomes and lower long-term costs. These findings are supported by recent research showing that modifiable risk factors account for nearly 89% of ischemic heart disease deaths in the United States (Benziger et al., 2026).

Benziger, C. P., Stark, B., Johnson, C. O., Roth, G. A., & GBD 2023 US IHD Collaborators. (2026). Modifiable risk factors and attributable ischemic heart disease mortality in US states, 1990–2023: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. JAMA Cardiology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2026.2435