The WIC program provides families food in specific categories. New research finds that households who redeem more of their benefits in the most popular food categories are more likely to remain in the program long-term.
WIC participants who redeem more of their benefits in the most popular food categories, such as fruits and vegetables and eggs, are more likely to stay in the program, according to new research. Credit: Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay.
But many families who are income eligible to participate in WIC aren’t receiving those benefits. Research has found that households who don’t use the full amount of their nutrition benefits are more likely to drop from the program.
New research by the University of Washington has found that households who redeem more of their benefits in the most popular food categories are more likely to remain in the program long-term. Better understanding these patterns could help WIC agencies identify families who might need a little extra encouragement to stay enrolled.
“Finding ways to identify kids and families that are at risk of dropping out of the program is of high importance,” said Pia Chaparro, a UW assistant professor of health systems and population health and first author of the study. “That’s basically what we’ve identified — a way to flag families who may be at risk of dropping off.”
WIC provides families with food benefits in specific categories, with fruits and vegetables and eggs as the most popular. In partnership with Public Health Foundation Enterprises WIC (PHFE WIC), a Southern California WIC agency with a large research and evaluation division, researchers analyzed redemption data from 188,000 participating infants and children 0-3 years old, between the years 2019 and 2023.
Among those children, higher redemption of fruits and vegetables, eggs, whole milk and infant formula was associated with lower risk of their household discontinuing WIC participation.
The risk of discontinuation decreased in a somewhat linear fashion as redemption rates increased.
Chaparro hopes that local WIC agencies will build on these findings and seek new ways to engage families at risk of dropping off. All WIC providers must offer nutrition education, which could be an opportunity to target households with lower redemption rates in popular categories.
The findings come just over a year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees WIC, implemented significant updates to the program’s food package. Among other changes, the 2024 rule significantly increased benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables, which has proven popular.
“The expansion of fruit and vegetable benefits for WIC families has been among the most important policy changes of the last decade,” said Shannon Whaley, director of research and evaluation at PHFE WIC and co-author of the study. “Families want more fruits and vegetables, and this research demonstrates that their inclusion in the WIC food package is essential for longer-term engagement in the program.”
Research led by the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente Southern California sheds new light on how the 2025 Los Angeles fires affected people’s health, and how people navigated the health care system during an emergency.
Smoke rises above the Los Angeles skyline during the January 2025 wildfires. In the week after the fires ignited, members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California made 42% more virtual health care visits for respiratory symptoms, according to new research led by Kaiser Permanente and the UW. Credit: Erick Ley, iStock
When uncontrolled wildfires moved from the foothills above Los Angeles into the densely populated urban areas below in January 2025, evacuation ensued and a thick layer of toxic smoke spread across the region. Air quality plummeted. Local hospitals braced for a surge,but it never came.
Research led by the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente Southern California sheds new light on how the Los Angeles fires affected people’s health, and how people navigated the health care system during an emergency. In the rapid study, published Nov. 26 in JAMA Health Forum, researchers analyzed the health records of 3.7 million Kaiser Permanente members of all ages living in the region. They found that health care visits did rise above normal levels, especially virtual services.
Related: The UW RAPID Facility created a dataset of aerial imagery and 3D models from the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Learn more here.
In the week after the fires ignited, Kaiser Permanente members made 42% more virtual visits for respiratory symptoms than expected. Those living near a burn zone or within Los Angeles County also made 44% and 40% more virtual cardiovascular visits, respectively, than expected.
In-person outpatient visits for respiratory symptoms also increased substantially. Members who lived near a burn zone or within Los Angeles County made 27% and 31% more virtual cardiovascular visits, respectively, than expected.
Extrapolating to all insured residents of the county, the researchers estimated an excess of 15,792 cardiovascular virtual visits, 18,489 respiratory virtual visits and 27,903 respiratory outpatient visits in the first week of the fires.
The results suggest that people may rely more heavily on virtual health care during climate-related emergencies, and that providers should better prioritize virtual and telehealth services as they prepare for future crises.
“We saw over 6,241 excess cardiorespiratory virtual visits in the week following the fire ignition. This represents a substantial increase in care,” saidJoan Casey, a UW associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and of epidemiology who led the research. “While the fires clearly impacted health, virtual care likely enhanced the ability of providers to meet the health care needs of people experiencing an ongoing climate disaster.”
In collaboration with Kaiser Permanente Southern California, an integrated health care system with millions of members across the region, researchers analyzed health records of people who were highly or moderately exposed to wildfires. They defined high exposure as living within about 12 miles (20 kilometers) of a burn zone, and moderate exposure as living within Los Angeles County but farther than 12 miles during the time of the fires.
Researchers looked back three years to estimate how many health care visits to expect in the weeks following Jan. 7 — the first day of the fires — under typical conditions. They then estimated how many people sought care in the first week of the fires, when smoke levels were highest, evacuations took place, and Los Angeles County public schools were closed.
In addition to the spike in cardiovascular and respiratory visits, researchers found a sharp increase in the number of visits for injuries and neuropsychiatric symptoms. On Jan. 7, outpatient injury visits were 18% higher than expected among highly exposed members, and virtual injury visits were 26% and 18% higher than expected among highly and moderately exposed groups, respectively. Among those same groups, outpatient neuropsychiatric visits rose 31% and 28% above expectations, respectively.
While both groups made significantly more visits than expected, proximity to the fires mattered. When researchers zoomed in on respiratory-related virtual visits, they found that minimally exposed members made 31% more visits, moderately exposed members made 36% more, and those living in highly exposed areas made 42% more.
“While healthcare systems often plan to increase the number of hospital beds available or clinic staffing during an emergency, this work highlights the importance of considering virtual care capacity,” saidLauren Wilner, a UW doctoral student of epidemiology and co-author on the study. “This may be particularly true for climate disasters like wildfires, during which people are advised to stay indoors or when people must evacuate — motivating them to seek care online if at all possible. As climate disasters increase in frequency and intensity, it is essential that health care systems know how to prepare for a sudden and dramatic surge in health care utilization.”
In mid-pregnancy, exposure to any smoke was associated with an elevated risk of preterm birth, with that risk peaking around the 21st week of gestation. In late pregnancy, elevated risk was most closely associated with exposure to high concentrations of wildfire PM2.5, above 10 micrograms per cubic meter.
Wildfire smoke blankets the Seattle skyline in 2020. A new study finds that pregnant people who are exposed to wildfire smoke are more likely to give birth prematurely.
About 10% of American babies are born prematurely. Birth before 37 weeks can lead to a cascade of health risks, both immediate and long-term, making prevention a vital tool for improving public health over generations.
In recent years, researchers have identified a potential link between wildfire smoke — one of the fastest-growing sources of air pollution in the United States — and preterm birth, but no study has been big or broad enough to draw definitive conclusions. A new study led by the University of Washington makes an important contribution, analyzing data from more than 20,000 births to find that pregnant people who are exposed to wildfire smoke are more likely to give birth prematurely.
“Preventing preterm birth really pays off with lasting benefits for future health,” said lead author Allison Sherris, a UW postdoctoral researcher in environmental and occupational health sciences. “It’s also something of a mystery. We don’t always understand why babies are born preterm, but we know that air pollution contributes to preterm births, and it makes sense that wildfire smoke would as well. This study underscores that wildfire smoke is inseparable from maternal and infant health.”
Related: The UW RAPID Facility created a dataset of aerial imagery and 3D models from the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Learn more here.
Researchers estimated participants’ average daily exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, generated by wildfire smoke, and the total number of days they were exposed to any amount of smoke. They estimated the intensity of smoke exposure by how frequently participants were exposed to wildfire PM2.5 levels above certain thresholds.
They found that pregnant people exposed to more intense wildfire smoke were more likely to give birth prematurely. In mid-pregnancy, exposure to any smoke was associated with an elevated risk of preterm birth, with that risk peaking around the 21st week of gestation. In late pregnancy, elevated risk was most closely associated with exposure to high concentrations of wildfire PM2.5, above 10 micrograms per cubic meter.
“The second trimester is a period of pregnancy with the richest and most intense growth of the placenta, which itself is such an important part of fetal health, growth and development,” said co-author Dr. Catherine Karr, a UW professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and of pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine. “So it may be that the wildfire smoke particles are really interfering with placental health. Some of them are so tiny that after inhalation they can actually get into the bloodstream and get delivered directly into the placenta or fetus.”
The link was strongest and most precise in the Western U.S., where people were exposed to the highest concentrations of wildfire PM2.5 and the greatest number of high-intensity smoke days. Here, the odds of preterm birth increased with each additional microgram per cubic meter of average wildfire PM2.5.
It’s possible those results were more precise simply because the West experiences more wildfire smoke on average, making the exposure model perform better, Sherris said. But there may be other factors behind the regional differences.
The composition of wildfire smoke is different across the country. In the West, smoke tends to come from fires nearby, while in places like the Midwest, smoke has typically drifted in from faraway fires. Smoke’s toxicity changes as it ages and reacts with sunlight and airborne chemicals, which could have affected the results. Researchers also noted that external factors like co-occurring heat or housing quality may have effects that aren’t fully understood.
Researchers hope that future studies will examine the exact mechanisms by which wildfire smoke might trigger preterm birth. But in the meantime, Sherris said, evidence for a link is now strong enough to take action.
“There are a couple avenues for change,” Sherris said. “First, people already get a lot of public health messaging and information throughout pregnancy, so there’s an opportunity to work with clinicians to provide tools for pregnant people to protect themselves during smoke events. Public health agencies’ messaging about wildfire smoke could also be tailored to pregnant people and highlight them as a vulnerable group.”
Co-authors include Logan Dearborn, doctoral student of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW; Christine Loftus, clinical associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW; Adam Szpiro, professor of biostatistics at the UW; Joan Casey, associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and of epidemiology at the UW; Sindana Ilango, postdoctoral fellow of epidemiology at the UW; and Marissa Childs, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the UW. A full list of co-authors is included with the paper.
This research was funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program at the National Institutes of Health under multiple awards. A full list of ECHO funding awards is included with the paper.
For more information or to contact the researchers, email Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu.
Targeted drug delivery is a powerful and promising area of medicine. Therapies that pinpoint precise areas of the body can reduce the medicine dosage and avoid potentially harmful “off target” effects. Researchers at the UW took a significant step toward that goal by designing proteins with autonomous decision-making capabilities. By adding smart tail structures to therapeutic proteins, the team demonstrated that the proteins could be “programmed” to act based on the presence of specific environmental cues.
Therapies that are sensitive to multiple biomarkers could allow medicines to reach only the areas of the body where they are needed. The diagram above shows three theoretical biomarkers that are present in specific, sometimes overlapping areas of the body. A therapy designed to find the unique area of overlap between the three will act on only that area. Photo: DeForest et al./Nature Chemical Biology
Targeted drug delivery is a powerful and promising area of medicine. Therapies that pinpoint the exact areas of the body where they’re needed — and nowhere they’re not — can reduce the medicine dosage and avoid potentially harmful “off target” effects elsewhere in the body. A targeted immunotherapy, for example, might seek out cancerous tissues and activate immune cells to fight the disease only in those tissues.
The tricky part is making a therapy truly “smart,” where the medicine can move freely through the body and decide which areas to target.
Researchers at the University of Washington took a significant step toward that goal by designing proteins with autonomous decision-making capabilities. In a proof-of-principles study published Oct. 9 in Nature Chemical Biology, researchers demonstrated that by adding smart tail structures to therapeutic proteins, they could control the proteins’ localization based on the presence of specific environmental cues. These protein tails fold themselves into preprogrammed shapes that define how they react to different combinations of cues. In addition, the experiment showed that the smart protein tails could be attached to a carrier material for delivery to living cells.
Advances in synthetic biology also allowed the researchers to manufacture these proteins cheaply and in a matter of days instead of months.
“We’ve been thinking about these concepts for some time but have struggled with ways to increase and automate production,” said senior author Cole DeForest, a UW professor of chemical engineering and bioengineering. “We’ve now finally figured out how to produce these systems faster, at scale and with dramatically enhanced logical complexity. We are excited about how these will lead to more sophisticated and scalable disease-honing therapies.”
The concept of programmable biomaterials isn’t new. Scientists have developed numerous strategies to make systems responsive to individual cues — such as pH levels or the presence of specific enzymes — that are associated with a particular disease or area of the body. But it’s rare to find one cue, or “biomarker,” that’s unique to one spot, so a material that hones in on just one biomarker might act on a few unintended places in addition to the target.
One solution to this problem is to seek out a combination of biomarkers. There might be many areas of the body with particular enzyme or pH levels, but there are likely fewer areas with both of those factors. In theory, the more biomarkers a material can identify, the more finely targeted drug delivery can be.
In 2018, DeForest’s lab created a new class of materials that responded to multiple biomarkers using Boolean logic, a concept traditionally used in computer programming.
The diagrams above show linker structures that can perform different logical operations. In box 1, the protein therapeutic (star) is released from a material (pink wedge) in the presence of either biomarker X or Y; in box 2, the protein will release only if both biomarkers X and Y are present. Photo: DeForest et al./Nature Chemical Biology
“We realized that we could program how therapeutics were released based simply on how they were connected to a carrier material,” DeForest said. “For example, if we linked a therapeutic cargo to a material via two degradable groups connected in series — that is, each after the other — it would be released if either group was degraded, acting as an OR gate. When the degradable groups were instead connected in parallel — that is, each on a different half of a cycle — both groups had to be degraded for cargo release, functioning as an AND gate. Excitingly, by combining these basic gates we could readily create advanced logical circuits.”
It was a big step forward, but it wasn’t scalable — the team built these large and complex logic-responsive materials manually through traditional organic chemistry.
But over the next several years, the related field of synthetic biology advanced by leaps and bounds.
“The field has developed exciting new protein-based tools that can allow researchers to form permanent bonds between proteins,” said co-first author Murial Ross, a UW doctoral student of bioengineering. “It opened doors for new protein structures that were previously unachievable, which made more complex logical operations possible.”
Additionally, it became practical to use living cells as factories to produce these complex proteins, allowing scientists to design custom DNA blueprints for new proteins, insert the DNA into bacteria or other host cells, and then collect the proteins with the desired structure directly from the cells.
With these new tools, DeForest and his team streamlined and improved many steps of the process at once. They designed and produced proteins with tails that spontaneously fold into more bespoke shapes, creating complex “circuits” that can respond to up to five different biomarkers. These new proteins can attach to various carriers — hydrogels, tiny beads or living cells — for delivery to a cell, or theoretically a disease site. The team even loaded up one carrier with three different proteins, each programmed to deliver their unique cargo based on different sets of environmental cues.
The research team designed protein tails that fold into custom shapes to create sophisticated logical circuits. Box 1 shows a protein designed to be responsive to five different biomarkers; box 2 shows the logical conditions that must be met to fully break apart the tail and release the protein. Photo: DeForest et al./Nature Chemical Biology
“We were so excited about the results,” DeForest said. “Using the old process, it would take months to synthesize just a few milligrams of each of these materials. Now it takes us a couple of weeks to go from construct design to product. It’s been a complete game changer for us.”
“The sky’s the limit. You can create delayed and independent delivery of many different components in one treatment,” Ross said. “And I think we could create much, much larger logical circuits that a protein can be responsive to. We’re at the point now that the technology is outpacing what we’ve seriously considered in terms of applications, which is a great place to be.”
The researchers will now continue searching for more biomarkers that proteins could target. They also hope to start collaborating with other labs at the UW and beyond to build and deploy real-world therapies.
The team outlined other uses for the technology as well. The same tools could manufacture therapies within a single cell and direct them to specific regions, a sort of microcosm of how the process works in the body. DeForest also envisions diagnostic tools like blood tests that could, say, turn a certain color when a complex set of cues within the blood sample are present.
DeForest thinks the first practical applications are likely to be cancer treatments, but with more research, the possibilities feel endless.
“The dream is to be able to pick any arbitrary location inside of the body — down to individual cells — and program a material to go and act there,” he said. “That’s a tall order, but with these technologies we’re getting closer. With the right combination of biomarkers, these materials will just get more and more precise.”
Co-authors include Annabella Li, a former UW undergraduate student of chemical engineering; Shivani Kottantharayil, a UW undergraduate student of bioengineering; and Jack Hoye, a UW doctoral student of chemical engineering.
This research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
Students schools that offered free meals to all students were less likely to have high blood pressure, suggesting that universal free meals might be a powerful tool for improving public health.
Evidence shows that school meals are often more nutritious than meals that students eat elsewhere. Credit: SDI Productions/iStock
Now, as cuts to food assistance programs threaten to slash access to universal school meals, a new study led by the University of Washington finds another potential benefit to the programs: Students in participating schools were less likely to have high blood pressure, suggesting that universal free meals might be a powerful tool for improving public health.
“High blood pressure is an important public health problem that isn’t studied as much on a population level as obesity,” said Anna Localio, a UW postdoctoral researcher of health systems and population health and lead author of the study. “We have evidence that CEP increases participation in school meals, and we also have evidence that school meals are more nutritious than meals that kids obtain elsewhere. This is a public health policy that is delivering nutritious meals to children who may not have previously had access.”
For the study, published Sept. 25 in JAMA Network Open, researchers linked two datasets that rarely interact. They obtained medical records of patients ages 4-18 from community health organizations, and used patients’ addresses to identify the school they attended. The data encompassed 155,778 young people attending 1,052 schools, mostly in California and Oregon.
Researchers estimated the percentage of students with high blood pressure before and after schools opted into universal free meals, and compared those results against eligible schools that had not yet participated in the program. They also tracked students’ average systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. All data were aggregated at the school level.
They found that school participation in the CEP was associated with a 2.71% decrease in the proportion of students with high blood pressure, corresponding to a 10.8% net drop over five years. School participation in CEP was also associated with a decrease in students’ average diastolic blood pressure.
Participation in universal free meals was associated with an 11% net decrease in the proportion of patients with high blood pressure over a five-year period. The above chart shows the annual difference in the percentage of students with high blood pressure in participating schools and non-participating schools.
“In previous work on the health impacts of universal free school meals, our team found that adoption of free meals is associated with decreases in average body mass index scores and childhood obesity prevalence, which are closely linked to risk of high blood pressure,” said Jessica Jones-Smith, a professor of health, society and behavior at the University of California Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health and senior author of the study. Jones-Smith conducted much of this research while on faculty at the UW School of Public Health. “So in addition to directly affecting blood pressure through provision of healthier meals, a second pathway by which providing universal free meals might impact blood pressure is through their impact on lowering risk for high BMI.”
Improved nutrition of school meals may have helped drive the decrease, researchers said. The 2010 law that established the CEP also created stronger nutritional requirements for school meals. As a result, those meals now more closely resemble the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which studies have shown to be an effective tool for managing hypertension.
Despite the evidence supporting the DASH diet’s effectiveness, public health officials previously lacked an effective mechanism to encourage people with high blood pressure to follow its recommendations. “We know there are a lot of barriers to people eating this diet,” Localio said, but the combination of universal free meals and increased nutritional standards likely helped students overcome those barriers.
The study also contradicts the common misperception that universal free meals mostly benefit wealthier students, because students from low-income families would already receive free meals. The study sample consists primarily of low-income patients, with 85% of included students enrolled in public health insurance such as Medicaid.
“There is a perception that providing universally free school meals will only improve outcomes for students of relatively higher-income families, but our findings suggest that there are benefits for lower-income children as well,” Jones-Smith said. “Potential mechanisms for this include decreasing the income-related stigma around eating school lunch by providing it free to all students and eliminating the time and paperwork burden of individually applying, thus decreasing barriers to participation in school meals.”
“We’re in a contentious time for public health, but it seems like there’s bipartisan support for healthy school meals,” Localio said. “There’s legislation being considered in a number of states to expand universal free meals, and these findings could inform that decision-making. Cutting funding to school meals would not promote children’s health.”
Co-authors on the study include Paul Hebert, research professor emeritus of health systems and population health at the UW; Melissa Knox, teaching professor of economics at the UW; Wyatt Benksen and Aileen Ochoa of OCHIN; and Jennifer Sonney, associate professor of nursing at the UW. This study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.
For more information or to contact the researchers, email Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu.
A summer fellowship program for students who are interested in working to improve health outcomes in rural South Carolina. Geographic coverage: South Carolina -- South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare
Funding for nonprofit medical clinics, hospitals, and public health agencies for the purchase of specialized telecommunications equipment designed to augment or enhance the delivery of medical services in rural or underserved areas or to people with disabilities in Wisconsin. Geographic coverage: Wisconsin -- Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
A paid 6-week educational experience for healthcare professions students who want to learn more about healthcare provision in rural settings. Preceptor locations are in Illinois. Geographic coverage: Illinois -- Illinois Area Health Education Centers Network Program, National Center for Rural Health Professions
A postbaccalaureate pathway program for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students in California who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Geographic coverage: California -- Cal Poly Humboldt, UC Davis School of Medicine
Grants for rural hospitals in Georgia to increase or expand access to healthcare, support recruitment and retention initiatives, reduce existing debt, or strengthen financial and operational foundation/reduce financial waste. Geographic coverage: Georgia -- Georgia Department of Community Health, Georgia State Office of Rural Health
Este Mes del Corazón en Estados Unidos, considere controlar otros factores de salud además del corazón, como el nivel de azúcar en sangre y la salud renal.
Aspectos destacados:
La salud cardíaca y el riesgo de padecer enfermedades cardíacas van más allá del corazón.
La diabetes y las enfermedades renales son los principales factores de riesgo para las enfermedades cardíacas, pero muchos casos no se diagnostican.
La revisión periódica de los factores de salud relacionados, como la presión arterial, el colesterol, la glucemia (azúcar en sangre), el perímetro de la cintura y la función renal, así como el tratamiento adecuado cuando sea necesario, pueden ayudar a prevenir las enfermedades cardíacas.
DALLAS, 18 de febrero de 2026 — La diabetes y las enfermedades renales son los principales factores de riesgo para las enfermedades cardíacas, pero muchos casos no se diagnostican. Además, una encuesta al consumidor (sitio web en inglés) realizada el otoño pasado sugiere que la mayoría de las personas no son conscientes de que la salud cardíaca, renal y metabólica (cómo el cuerpo crea, utiliza y almacena energía) están relacionadas.
Según la nueva actualización de estadísticas de 2026 de American Heart Association (Asociación Americana del Corazón) (sitio web en inglés), casi 1 de cada 4 adultos de los EE. UU. con diabetes no saben que la padecen. Además, los datos de los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades[1] informan que hasta 9 de cada 10 adultos con enfermedad renal crónica no saben que la padecen.
Debido a que las enfermedades cardíacas, las enfermedades renales y la diabetes están estrechamente relacionadas, padecer una de ellas suele aumentar la probabilidad de desarrollar las demás. Esto se debe en gran medida a factores de riesgo compartidos, como la presión arterial alta, el colesterol alto, el azúcar en sangre alto, el sobrepeso y la reducción de la función renal. El informe estadístico de la Asociación indica que la detección de enfermedades renales en particular podría mejorarse, ya que dos tercios de los pacientes con presión arterial alta o diabetes no saben que también padecen una enfermedad renal debido a la falta de exámenes de uACR, un análisis de orina para evaluar la función renal. Para las personas con diabetes o hipertensión arterial, se recomiendan dos exámenes de detección para evaluar la salud de la función renal: el análisis de orina uACR y el análisis de sangre eGFR. Cada uno mide diferentes aspectos de la salud y la función renal.
“Alentamos a las personas a que tomen conciencia de la relación entre las distintas afecciones, de modo que, junto con su equipo de cuidados de salud, puedan pensar en su salud general más allá de las afecciones individuales”, afirmó Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, presidenta voluntaria de la American Heart Association. “Comprender la conexión ayuda a prevenir mejor las complicaciones a través de cambios en el estilo de vida y un tratamiento adecuado”.
El término médico para la conexión entre las enfermedades cardíacas, las enfermedades renales y la diabetes es síndrome cardiovascular-renal-metabólico o síndrome CRM (sitio web en inglés). Las mayores amenazas para la salud causadas por el síndrome CRM son la discapacidad y la muerte por enfermedades cardíacas y ataques o derrames cerebrales, que constituyen la parte “cardiovascular” de CRM.
La parte “metabólica” del síndrome CRM incluye la diabetes y la obesidad. Las enfermedades renales se relacionan estrechamente con las enfermedades metabólicas y cardiovasculares.
Rosen hace hincapié en que los exámenes periódicos de su salud cardiovascular, renal y metabólica pueden detectar problemas de forma temprana, ya que aproximadamente el 80% de los ataques cardíacos y los ataques o derrames cerebrales se pueden prevenir, según la American Heart Association. Además, los factores de riesgo suelen desarrollarse de forma lenta, con pocos o ningún síntoma al principio.
“Debido a las tasas actuales de los factores de riesgo, todo el mundo podría beneficiarse de someterse a este tipo de pruebas”, añade. Rosen es directora ejecutiva del Katz Institute for Women’s Health y vicepresidenta sénior de salud de la mujer en Northwell Health, en la ciudad de Nueva York.
El informe estadístico de 2026 de la Asociación muestra que alrededor de la mitad de todos los adultos de los EE. UU. padecen presión arterial alta, aproximadamente 1 de cada 3 tienen colesterol total alto, más de la mitad tiene prediabetes o diabetes, más de la mitad tiene una circunferencia de cintura grande y aproximadamente 1 de cada 7 padece enfermedades renales.
La detección del síndrome CRM puede incluir las siguientes pruebas:
Presión arterial
Perfil lipídico, que incluye colesterol total, colesterol LDL (conocido como colesterol “malo”), colesterol HDL (colesterol “bueno”) y triglicéridos, el tipo de grasa más común en el cuerpo
Glucemia (azúcar en sangre), medida a corto plazo, como la glucosa en ayunas, o a largo plazo, como A1C
Peso y tamaño corporal, medidos por el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la circunferencia de la cintura
Función renal, medida con un análisis de orina llamado CACu (cociente de albúmina-creatinina en orina) y un análisis de sangre llamado TFGe (tasa de filtración glomerular estimada)
Un profesional de la salud puede introducir los resultados de estas pruebas en la calculadora en línea PREVENT (sitio web en inglés) para estimar su riesgo individual de padecer enfermedades cardiovasculares durante los próximos 10 o 30 años.
El síndrome CRM se puede prevenir y tratar. Los hábitos saludables como los de Life’s Essential 8 (sitio web en inglés) y los tratamientos basados en la evidencia pueden mejorar varias afecciones juntas.
La American Heart Association, la principal organización sin fines de lucro del mundo centrada en cambiar el futuro de la salud para todos, lleva más de 100 años promoviendo una mejor salud cardíaca y cerebral. La Iniciativa de salud cardiovascular-renal-metabólica de la Asociación (sitio web en inglés) es un esfuerzo específico para concientizar sobre las conexiones entre las afecciones del síndrome CRM y para mejorar las tasas de diagnóstico, lo que ayuda a las personas a ser más conscientes de su riesgo. La iniciativa, apoyada por los patrocinadores fundadores Novo Nordisk y Boehringer Ingelheim, los patrocinadores Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation y Bayer, y el patrocinador principal DaVita, cuenta con la participación de 150 centros de atención médica en 15 regiones de los EE. UU., que aprenderán y compartirán las prácticas recomendadas para la atención interdisciplinaria del síndrome CRM. Se espera que tenga un impacto en la atención de más de un cuarto de millón de pacientes.
La Asociación recibe más de un 85% de sus ingresos de fuentes ajenas a empresas. Estas fuentes incluyen contribuciones de personas particulares, fundaciones y patrimonios, así como ganancias por inversiones e ingresos por la venta de nuestros materiales informativos. Las empresas (incluidas las farmacéuticas, los fabricantes de dispositivos y otras compañías) también realizan donaciones a la Asociación. La Asociación tiene políticas estrictas para evitar que las donaciones influyan en el contenido científico y en las posturas de sus políticas. La información financiera general está disponible aquí. (sitio web en inglés).
Siga las noticias de la American Heart Association/American Stroke Association en X en @HeartNews (sitio web en inglés)
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Acerca de la American Heart Association
La American Heart Association es una fuerza incansable para un mundo de vidas más largas y saludables. La organización ha sido una fuente líder de información sobre salud durante más de cien años y su objetivo es garantizar la equidad en la salud en todas las comunidades. Con el apoyo de más de 35 millones de voluntarios en todo el mundo, financiamos investigaciones vanguardistas, defendemos la salud pública y proporcionamos recursos fundamentales para salvar y mejorar vidas afectadas por enfermedades cardiovasculares y ataques o derrames cerebrales. Trabajamos incansablemente para hacer avanzar la salud y transformar vidas cada día mediante el impulso de avances y la implementación de soluciones comprobadas en las áreas de ciencia, políticas y cuidados. Comuníquese con nosotros mediante heart.org (sitio web en inglés), Facebook o X, o llame al 1-800-AHA-USA1.
Para consultas de los medios de comunicación o el punto de vista experto de la AHA/ASA:214-706-1173
This American Heart Month, consider checking on health factors beyond the heart, including blood sugar and kidney health
Highlights:
Heart health and heart disease risk go beyond the heart.
Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, yet many cases are undiagnosed.
Regular screening of connected health factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose (sugar), waist circumference and kidney function, and appropriate treatment when needed can help prevent heart disease.
DALLAS, Feb. 18, 2026 — Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, yet many cases are undiagnosed. In addition, a consumer survey done last fall suggests that most people don’t realize that their heart, kidney and metabolic health (how the body creates, uses and stores energy) are connected.
According to the American Heart Association’s new 2026 statistics update, almost 1 in 4 U.S. adults with diabetes are unaware they have it. In addition, Centers for Disease Control data[1] report that as many as 9 in 10 adults with chronic kidney disease do not know they have it.
Because heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes are closely linked, having one condition often increases the likelihood of developing the others. This is largely due to shared risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, excess weight and reduced kidney function. The Association’s statistics report indicates that screening for kidney disease in particular could be improved, as two-thirds of patients with high blood pressure or diabetes are not aware that they also have kidney disease due to lack of uACR testing, a urine test for kidney function. For people with diabetes or high blood pressure, two screening tests for kidney health are suggested: the uACR urine test and eGFR blood test. Each measures different aspects of kidney health and function.
“We are encouraging people to become aware of the connection between conditions so they and their health care team can think about their overall health beyond individual conditions,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. “Understanding the connection helps you better prevent complications through lifestyle changes and appropriate treatment.”
The medical term for the connection between heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes is cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, or CKM syndrome. The biggest health threats from CKM syndrome are disability and death from heart disease and stroke, which make up the “cardiovascular” part of CKM.
The “metabolic” part of CKM syndrome includes diabetes and obesity. Kidney disease is closely linked with both metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
Rosen emphasizes that regular screening of your cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health can catch problems early, as approximately 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable, according to the American Heart Association. In addition, risk factors often develop slowly, with few or no symptoms at first.
“Due to the current risk factor rates, everyone could benefit from being screened this way,” she adds. Rosen is executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health and senior vice president of women’s health at Northwell Health in New York City.
The Association’s 2026 statistics report shows that about half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure, about 1 in 3 has high total cholesterol, more than half have prediabetes or diabetes, over half have a high waist circumference, and about 1 in 7 has kidney disease.
Screening for CKM syndrome may include the following tests:
Blood pressure
Cholesterol panel, which includes total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (known as “bad” cholesterol), HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol), and triglycerides, the most common type of fat in the body
Blood glucose (blood sugar), measured in either the short term as fasting glucose or long term as A1C
Body weight and size, measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference
Kidney function, measured with both UACR and eGFR
A healthcare professional can put results from these tests into the PREVENT online calculator to estimate your individual risk for cardiovascular disease over the next 10 or 30 years.
CKM syndrome is preventable and treatable. Healthy habits like those in Life’s Essential 8 and evidence-based treatments can improve multiple health conditions together.
The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on changing the future of health for all, has championed better heart and brain health for more than 100 years. The Association’s Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health Initiative is a specific effort to raise awareness of the connections between CKM syndrome conditions and improve diagnosis rates, helping people to be more aware of their risk. The initiative, supported by founding sponsors Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim, supporting sponsors Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Bayer, and champion sponsor DaVita, is enrolling 150 health care sites across 15 U.S. regions to participate in learning and sharing best practices for interdisciplinary care of CKM syndrome. It is expected to impact the care of more than a quarter-million patients.
The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.
Follow American Heart Association/American Stroke Association news on X @HeartNews
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173
Both middle‑aged South Asian men and women had higher rates of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure compared to white, Chinese and Hispanic peers, and similar or slightly lower rates of high blood pressure compared to Black adults despite healthier lifestyles, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association
Research Highlights:
South Asian adults begin developing risk factors for heart disease earlier—by their mid-40s—according to an analysis of data from two long-running health studies in the United States.
Despite healthier lifestyle/behaviors, such as higher diet quality, lower alcohol use and comparable exercise levels, South Asian adults were more likely to have high blood pressure and/or prediabetes or type 2 diabetes compared to white, Chinese and Hispanic adults of the same age.
At age 45, South Asian men were nearly eight times more likely and South Asian women about three times more likely to have prediabetes than their white peers.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026
DALLAS, Feb. 11, 2026 — South Asian adults in the U. S. were more likely to have risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) by age 45 when compared to white, Black, Chinese or Hispanic adults in the same age group, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. These ASCVD risk factors can lead to earlier heart disease if they are not treated and managed.
To understand why, researchers analyzed health data for 2,700 adults, ages 45–55 from two national studies in the U.S. The health data examined were from two long-term studies that followed a diverse group of adults from different regions in the U.S.: the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study, and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
The MASALA Study, based at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL and University of California, San Francisco, collected initial health checkups for South Asian participants, who traced their ancestry to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka, between 2010–2013 and with follow-up health exams in 2016–2018. Researchers compared the health data of participants in MASALA to publicly available MESA data for white, Black, Hispanic and Chinese adults of the same age. MESA began initial health checkups in 2000–2002 and conducted follow-ups every two years, with the most recent exam visits in 2016–2018.
The analysis examined health conditions that raise heart disease risk—such as high blood pressure, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes—as well as lifestyle behaviors, including diet, tobacco, alcohol use, physical activity and sex differences.
The lifestyle measures collected during office visits, several components that are part of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, included determining diet quality, physical activity and alcohol consumption based on self-reported information. Alcohol use was defined as drinking one or more alcoholic drinks per week.
Key findings from the study:
The difference in heart disease risks between South Asians and other populations was largely driven by prediabetes, diabetes and high blood pressure. South Asian men had a higher prevalence of prediabetes at age 45 (30.7%) when compared to peers in other ethnic groups (white: 3.9%, Chinese: 12.6%, Black: 10.4%, Hispanic: 10.5%).
South Asian men had a significantly greater prevalence of high blood pressure (25.5%) compared to white (18.4%), Chinese (6.6%) and Hispanic men (10.1%), and a significantly greater prevalence of high cholesterol and/or triglycerides (dyslipidemia) compared to Black men (South Asian men: 78.2% vs. Black men: 60.6%).
Similarly, South Asian women had almost two times higher prevalence of prediabetes at age 45 (17.6%) compared to peers in other population groups (white women: 5.7%, Chinese women: 8.2%, Black women: 9.0%, Hispanic women: 5.1%).
At age 55, both South Asian men and women were at least two times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes when compared to white adults at the same age.
Despite having higher rates of heart disease risk factors, South Asian adults also had the best quality diet, lower use of alcohol and comparable exercise habits.
Senior study author Namratha Kandula, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of medicine in internal medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and a co-founder of the MASALA study, said, “The earlier accumulation of health conditions that increase the chance of heart disease among U.S. South Asian adults signals the need for earlier screening, tailored prevention and prompt risk-factor management. If you are a South Asian adult, maintain a healthy lifestyle and get screened sooner — check blood pressure, glucose/A1c levels and cholesterol in early adulthood rather than waiting for symptoms.”
A 2023 scientific statement from the American Heart Association likewise reported that South Asian adults face disproportionately high risk for ASCVD caused by the buildup of plaque within the arteries. To mitigate this, it advises some dietary modifications—such as increasing whole‑grain intake, selecting cooking oils lower in saturated fat and avoiding deep‑fried preparation methods—to help reduce this elevated risk.
The long-term data analyzed in this study illustrate how health factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease, like high blood pressure; elevated levels of cholesterol and/or triglycerides (dyslipidemia); and prediabetes, appeared earlier among South Asian adults when compared to peers in other population groups. Identifying risk factors early can lead to early prevention and treatment strategies for South Asian adults in the U.S. and reduce their risk for heart disease.
The study has several limitations including the use of self-reported behaviors can be inaccurate because individuals may forget details or give answers they think may sound more desirable. Also, both the MASALA and MESA studies relied on participants following up, and these individuals were most often participants with higher educational and socioeconomic status. In addition, there may be limited generalizability beyond the populations studied in MASALA and MESA. Lastly, the MASALA and MESA had a gap of a decade between initial baseline exams – the MASALA baseline exam was initially conducted in 2010-2013, while the initial baseline exam for participants in MESA took place between 2000 and 2002.
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript.
Studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.
Additional Resources:
Multimedia is available on the right column of release link.
Follow American Heart Association/American Stroke Association news on X @HeartNews
Follow news from the Journal of the American Heart Association@JAHA_AHA
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries and American Heart Association Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173
The American Heart Association urges everyone to act fast with Hands-Only CPR during American Heart Month
DALLAS, Feb. 2, 2026 — New consumer survey findings from the American Heart Association show that nearly six in every ten American adults still incorrectly believe only those with special training should perform Hands-Only CPR.[1] The perpetuation of this myth can be the difference between life and death as science tells us immediate CPR is proven to improve outcomes.[2] Because most cardiac emergencies happen outside of a hospital setting, the fastest way for anyone to be a “first responder until help arrives” and save a life is to call 9-1-1 and immediately take action with Hands-Only CPR. Research indicates Hands-Only CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.2
Launching this February during Heart Month 2026, the Heart Association’s theme, You Are the First Responder Until Help Arrives, reinforces a simple truth: you don’t need medical credentials to save a life; all you need is basic knowledge, courage and the willingness to act. Today, bystanders step in with CPR only about 41% of the time.[3] The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, is working to change that.
“People tell us they’re afraid they’ll ‘do it wrong’ or think CPR requires having a certification or taking class before they can help,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and senior vice president of women’s health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health of Northwell Health in New York City. “Here’s what matters - if a teen or adult collapses: call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Your hands can keep blood flowing until professionals arrive.”
Each year in the United States, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of a hospital and about 90% are fatal.[4] Most occur at home, where a loved one may be the only one nearby to help. Kristen Walenga, 47 at the time, of Frankfort, Ill., was the only adult at home when she collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest while making breakfast one Saturday morning. Her 15-year-old son, Eddie, who had learned CPR from the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge program when he was in middle school, knew what to do and immediately took action. With his other siblings calling 911 for help, he started chest compressions until paramedics arrived. Kristen survived because of her child’s preparation and courage.
To bust the “special training” myth, it is important to understand that Hands-Only CPR for teens and adults has two simple steps: (1) call 911; and (2) push hard and fast in the center of the chest at 100–120 beats per minute, about the tempo of “Stayin’ Alive” or “Uptown Funk.” If an automated external defibrillator (AED) that can shock a heart back into a normal rhythm is available, turn it on and follow the voice prompts. For infants and children, CPR must include breaths.
You can learn CPR today with fast, flexible options for everyone. During American Heart Month, the Heart Association invites people to choose the path that fits their life, at home, at work or at school.
Take a class to build confidence and learn when to add breaths, how to use an AED and how to help children and infants. Find a CPR class at heart.org/nation.
Bring CPR to your circles by asking your school, workplace, faith community or gym to develop cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs), host CPR awareness activities and secure an AED.
Many people hesitate and some groups, including women and Black adults, are still less likely to receive CPR. The Heart Association’s focus specifically addresses barriers such as concerns about doing it “wrong,” fear of legal ramifications and worries about inappropriate contact, as well as the persistent belief that special training is required, a perception that is even more common in historically excluded communities.
“CPR is a civic duty. Heroism is not limited to uniforms, it is everyday people stepping up for others,” said Rosen. “Strong communities are built by preparedness. Whether you’re at home, the gym, or a child’s soccer game, cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, and you will most likely be saving the life of someone you know and love. Being prepared and willing to help strengthens the fabric of our nation.”
“You Are the First Responder” aligns with the Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative, sponsored nationally by Walgreens, to turn more bystanders into lifesavers and double survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.
Additional Resources:
Multimedia is available on the right column of release link.
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by millions of volunteers, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health and provide resources to save and improve lives affected by heart disease and stroke. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
[4] Palaniappan LP, Allen NB, Almarzooq ZI, Anderson CAM, Arora P, Avery CL, Baker-Smith CM, Bansal N, Currie ME, Earlie RS, Fan W, Fetterman JL, Barone Gibbs B, Heard DG, Hiremath S, Hong H, Hyacinth HI, Ibeh C, Jiang T, Johansen MC, Kazi DS, Ko D, Kwan TW, Leppert MH, Li Y, Magnani JW, Martin KA, Martin SS, Michos ED, Mussolino ME, Ogungbe O, Parikh NI, Perez MV, Perman SM, Sarraju A, Shah NS, Springer MV, St-Onge M-P, Thacker EL, Tierney S, Urbut SM, Van Spall HGC, Voeks JH, Whelton SP, Wong SS, Zhao J, Khan SS; on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Committee. 2026 Heart disease and stroke statistics: a report of US and global data from the American Heart Association. Circulation. Published online January 21, 2026. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001412
Adults who stay up late and are active at night were more likely to have poor cardiovascular health scores than people with more typical sleep-wake timing, finds a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association
Research Highlights:
Middle-aged and older adults — particularly women — who are naturally more active in the evenings may have worse cardiovascular health, as measured by the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 metric, in comparison to peers without a strong morning or evening preference.
Unhealthy behaviors among the night owls, such as poor diet quality, insufficient sleep and smoking, may account for their lower cardiovascular health profile, according to the analysis of data from the UK Biobank.
Helping night owls improve their lifestyle habits may lower their risk for heart attack and stroke, researchers said.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026
DALLAS, Jan. 28, 2026 — Middle-aged and older adults who were more active in the evenings had poorer cardiovascular health compared to their peers who were more active during the day. This may be especially true among women, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers reviewed health data for more than 300,000 adults (average age of about 57 years) participating in the UK Biobank to assess how chronotypes—an individual’s natural preference for sleep-wake timing—impacted their cardiovascular health.
About 8% of participants said they were “definitely evening people,” which was characterized by having a late-night bedtime (for example 2 a.m.) and peak activity later in the day. Self-reported “definitely morning people,” who were more active earlier in the day and had earlier bedtimes (for example 9 p.m.), made up about 24% of participants. About 67% of participants were classified as “intermediate” chronotype if they said they were unsure, or if said they were neither a morning person nor an evening person.
Cardiovascular health was measured according to the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8™ metrics, which note health behaviors and health factors associated with optimal cardiovascular health. The metrics include a healthy diet, regular physical activity, not smoking, good sleep quality, as well as healthy levels for weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.
The analysis found:
Compared to intermediate chronotypes, “evening people” or night owls had a 79% higher prevalence of having an overall poor cardiovascular health score.
Night owls had a 16% higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke over a median of about 14 years follow-up, compared to people within the intermediate category.
Evening chronotype was more strongly related to low cardiovascular health scores in women than in men.
Much of the increased risk of heart disease among evening people was due to poor heart health habits and factors, especially nicotine use and inadequate sleep.
In contrast, “morning people,” or early birds, had a 5% lower prevalence of low heart health scores compared with those without a strong morning or evening chronotype.
“‘Evening people’ often experience circadian misalignment, meaning their internal body clock may not match the natural day-to-night light cycle or their typical daily schedules,” said lead study author Sina Kianersi, Ph.D., D.V.M.; a research fellow in the division of sleep and circadian disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston. “Evening people may be more likely to have behaviors that can affect cardiovascular health, such as poorer diet quality, smoking and inadequate or irregular sleep.”
The study finding are not all bad news for night owls, according to Kristen Knutson, Ph.D., FAHA, volunteer chair of the 2025 American Heart Association statement, Role of Circadian Health in Cardiometabolic Health and Disease Risk. Knutson was not involved in this research.
“These findings show that the higher heart disease risks among evening types are partly due to modifiable behaviors such as smoking and sleep. Therefore, evening types have options to improve their cardiovascular health,” she said. “Evening types aren’t inherently less healthy, but they face challenges that make it particularly important for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
The American Heart Association scientific statement Knutson led suggests that individual chronotype should be considered in guiding the timing of interventions or treatment.
“Some medications or therapies work best when they align with a specific time of relevant circadian rhythms, and this time will vary depending on whether you are a morning, intermediate, or evening chronotype,” she said. “Targeted programs for people who naturally stay up late could help them improve their lifestyle behaviors and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Main limitations of the study include that most UK Biobank participants were white people and generally healthier than the broader population, which may limit how well the findings apply to other groups. In addition, evening vs. morning preference was measured only once and was self-reported.
Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript. The study was partially funded by the American Heart Association.
Studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.
Additional Resources:
Multimedia is available on the right column of release link.
Follow American Heart Association/American Stroke Association news on X @HeartNews
Follow news from the Journal of the American Heart Association@JAHA_AHA
###
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries and American Heart Association Perspective: 214-706-1173
