Global study shows racialized, Indigenous communities face higher burden of heart disease made worse by data gaps – McMaster University
August 22, 2025
A new study has revealed that racialized and Indigenous communities across Europe, North America, and Central America face significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and that gaps in health-care data are making the problem worse.
CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide but does not affect people equally. In many countries, Black, South Asian and Indigenous peoples have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure compared to white populations. Without an understanding of who is most at risk and why, health systems are unprepared to provide fair and effective care.
The research, published on August 21, is co-authored by two McMaster University scientists as part of The Lancet Regional Health-Europe commission on inequalities and disparities in cardiovascular health, announced in June 2024. The findings will be presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s (ESC) Congress 2025 in Madrid on August 29.
