Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) KEY FACTS people d annually CDs are the number one cause of death globally: more from CVDs than from any other cause representing 30% An estimated 17.3 million people died from cvDs in 2008, coronary of all global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7 million were due to over 80% heart disease and 6.2 million were due to stroke affected: Low- and middle-income countries are and occur almost of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries equally in men and women. from heart disease and The number of people who die from CVDs, mainly stroke, will increase to reach 23.3. million by 2030.VDs are projected to remain the single leading cause of death. risk factors Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes and raised lipids. high 9.4 million deaths each year, or 16.5% of all deaths can be attributed to blood pressure. This includes 51% of deaths due to strokes and 45% of deaths due to coronary heart disease.