Exploring the gap between heart age and chronological age to raise awareness about heart health
Chicago, July 31, 2025
A recent study by Northwestern Medicine indicates a significant number of U.S. adults have a ‘heart age’ older than their chronological age, particularly affecting demographics like men, Black, and Hispanic individuals. With a free online calculator available to assess heart age, the research aims to foster awareness about cardiovascular risks. Key disparities were noted across educational and income levels, and the findings will be published in JAMA Cardiology.
Chicago – A recently published study by Northwestern Medicine reveals that a significant number of U.S. adults have a “heart age” that is several years older than their actual chronological age, with some individuals experiencing a gap of more than a decade. The findings highlight alarming disparities in heart health risk among different demographics, particularly affecting men, people with lower socioeconomic status, and individuals identifying as Black or Hispanic.
Researchers developed a free online calculator that estimates a person’s “heart age” based on their risk of cardiovascular disease. This tool evaluates key health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking habits, and diabetes status. While the calculator is intended to improve understanding of heart disease risk, it is emphasized that it should supplement, not replace, professional medical advice.
The study, which will appear in the forthcoming issue of JAMA Cardiology on July 30, 2025, evaluated the cardiovascular risk of over 14,000 U.S. adults aged 30 to 79 who had no previous history of cardiovascular disease. This comprehensive analysis spanned data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2011 and 2020.
On average, women in the study had a heart age of 55.4 years, compared to their average chronological age of 51.3 years, resulting in a gap of 4.1 years. Men fared even worse, with an average heart age of 56.7 years against a chronological age of 49.7 years, creating a disparity of 7 years.
Dramatic differences in heart age were reported among various educational and income levels. Remarkably, about one-third of men with a high school education or less had heart ages more than 10 years older than their actual ages. Racial disparities were also significant; Black men averaged a heart age that was 8.5 years older than their chronological age, whereas Black women had a 6.2-year discrepancy. Hispanic men were found to have a heart age 7.9 years older, and Hispanic women’s heart age was 4.8 years older than their actual age.
White men exhibited an average heart age 6.4 years older than their chronological age, while white women were found to have a 3.7-year gap. Asian men and women averaged a heart age of 6.7 years and 2.8 years older, respectively.
Despite advancements in public health, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., with many adults failing to receive essential preventive care. The goal of the heart age calculator is to encourage individuals, especially younger adults, to acknowledge their potential risk for heart disease and to seek preventive measures in consultation with healthcare providers.
Future research will delve into the efficacy of presenting cardiovascular risk as a heart age and its impact on patient outcomes and understanding of preventive therapies.
The study, titled “PREVENT Risk Age Equations and Population Distribution in US Adults,” aims to revolutionize the way cardiovascular risk is communicated, with the hope that this age-based approach will facilitate more effective discussions between patients and doctors about heart health.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Study Duration | Data collected between 2011 and 2020. |
| Participants | 14,000 U.S. adults aged 30 to 79 without prior cardiovascular disease. |
| Heart Age Gap | Men and women exhibit heart ages significantly older than their chronological age. |
| Calculator Purpose | To better communicate cardiovascular risk in relatable terms. |
| Publication | Results to be published in JAMA Cardiology on July 30, 2025. |
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