Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting nearly 1,000 people a day – not only those with known heart issues, but people who may think they are healthy and have no obvious risk factors. Cardiac arrest strikes all ages, ethnicities, genders, and activity levels. There are more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually in the U.S., and nearly 90 percent are fatal.[1] Cardiac arrest is largely unpredictable and strikes with little warning. While prompt treatment is critical, patient education about heart health and risk factors, and the prevention of avoidable heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, are especially important.

Consider these statistics:

• Cardiovascular diseases claimed more lives in the United States than all forms of cancer and accidental deaths combined – the second and third leading causes of death, respectively – according to a 2025 statistical report from the American Heart Association.
• There were 941,652 cardiovascular disease-related deaths in the United States in 2022 (the most recent year for which final data is available), an increase of more than 10,000 from 2021. While cardiovascular-related deaths appear to be leveling off after increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2,500 people still die from cardiovascular disease each day in the United States.[2]

Cardiac arrest versus heart attack

Many people use the terms “heart attack” and “cardiac arrest” interchangeably, but patients often don’t understand that they are different health events. The former involves the disruption of blood supply to the heart tissue, and the latter is an electrical malfunction of the heart muscle.

A heart attack can cause cardiac arrest, but not all cardiac arrests are caused by heart attacks.

Certain lifestyle factors and chronic conditions do exacerbate a patient’s risk for either condition, such as a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and substance abuse disorders.

Patients are also at risk for sudden cardiac arrest if they have one or more of the following risk factors:

• Heart problems, including coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, problems with the heart structure, damage to the heart, heart failure, or a family history of heart problems
• Prior heart attack or heart failure
• Are older – the risk of cardiac arrest increases with age, but there is also a growing risk among younger patients
• Are male – most cardiac arrests occur in men, but check out this article for more information on heart disease risk for women
• Are Black – Black people have a higher risk for cardiac arrest than white people[3]
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)[4]

Black and American Indian or Alaska Native people in the U.S. have a higher rate of death due to heart and blood vessel disease than white people. This is in large part due to socio-economic disadvantages, such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, a family history of heart problems, and exposure to environmental hazards. People of South Asian ancestry have a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease.[5]

Heart disease, diabetes, and CKD

Heart disease, diabetes, and CKD are all connected, and the risk factors for these conditions are similar. High blood sugar can damage the kidneys, which can lead to CKD. Approximately one in three U.S. adults with diabetes has CKD.

CKD causes the heart to pump harder to get blood to the kidneys, which can lead to high blood pressure.[6] Conversely, high blood pressure can lead to CKD by damaging blood vessels in the body, including those in the kidneys, harming the kidneys and potentially leading to decreased kidney function.[7] CKD is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. More than 50 percent of patients with CKD develop cardiovascular complications, and patients with CKD are at a higher risk for sudden cardiac death.[8]

The growing risk among younger patients

Heart problems are a growing trend among adults under 40, with younger patients increasingly experiencing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart attacks. Heart disease-related hospitalizations are increasing for this age group, and one in five heart attacks now occur in adults aged 40 or younger. This trend is driven by risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes appearing earlier in life.

Almost half of adults aged 20-44 have at least one major cardiovascular risk factor.[9] Despite this growing trend, many young people may not know what their risk is, with 47 percent of those under the age of 45 believing they had no risk of heart disease, according to a 2023 survey.[10]

Prevention

Following a heart-healthy lifestyle can minimize the risk of heart disease and cardiac arrest. Steps that can be taken to help prevent heart disease include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a healthy diet
• Getting regular physical activity
• Limiting alcohol
• Not smoking
• Managing stress
• Getting enough sleep and having good sleep habits[11]

Provider resources

The following cardiac-related coverage policies are also available on the Cigna for Health Care Professionals portal (CignaforHCP.com) > Resources > Coverage Policies:

• Transthoracic Echocardiography in Adults
• Cardiac Imaging & Diagnostic Studies
• Cardiac Rehabilitation (Phase II Outpatient) Ambulatory External and Implantable Electrocardiographic Monitoring
• Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cardiomyopathies and Arrythmias

[1] Latest Statistics | Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation

[2] When it comes to heart and brain health, these are numbers you should know | American Heart Association

3] Cardiac Arrest – Causes and Risk Factors | NHLBI, NIH

[4] Sudden cardiac arrest – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

[5] Coronary Heart Disease – Risk Factors | NHLBI, NIH

[6] Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes, and Heart Disease | Chronic Kidney Disease | CDC

[7] Chronic Kidney Disease and High Blood Pressure | Chronic Kidney Disease | CDC

[8] Chronic kidney disease is associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death | Nature Communications

[9] Rising Heart Disease Rates in Younger Adults: Causes, Risks, and Prevention

[10] Survey: As early heart attacks increase, many young people may not consider their risks | Ohio State Medical News

[11] Heart Disease Prevention | MedlinePlus