Demographic of Coronary Artery Disease

As the leading cause of death across the globe, the demographic of coronary artery disease is rather wide. But even on this scale, certain segments of the population are more prone to the disease.

Significance

• The World Health Organization reports that the most typical form of cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, is the number one cause of death in the world. In the United States, at least 80 million people suffer from some form of heart disease.

Risk

• Age is the chief factor when determining the primary demographic of coronary artery disease. Older individuals have had a longer period of time to accumulate plaque in their body. "Over 83 percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older," says the American Heart Association.

Sex

• Males experience a higher rate of heart attack than females and suffer those earlier in life. According to New York University's Cardiac and Vascular Institute, the risk jumps at age 45 for men and 55 for women.

Heredity/Race

• People with a family history of coronary artery disease face high risk of the same. Race demographics in America indicate that all minority groups, including African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Native-Americans, Native-Hawaiians and some Asian-Americans, are more susceptible than caucasians.

Prevention/Solution

• Lifestyle changes are crucial to minimize the possibility of CAD. "Eating a healthy diet, staying fit with the right kind of exercise, and not smoking are the best ways to prevent CAD," says the University of Michigan Health System.