Prevention of cardiovascular and related diseases is foundational to attaining ideal cardiovascular health to improve the overall health and well-being of individuals and communities. Social determinants of health and health care inequities adversely affect ideal cardiovascular health and prevention of disease. Achieving optimal cardiovascular health in an effective and equitable manner requires a coordinated multidisciplinary and multilayered approach. In this scientific statement, we examine barriers to ideal cardiovascular health and its related conditions in the context of leveraging existing resources to reduce health care inequities and to optimize the delivery of preventive cardiovascular care. We systematically discuss (1) interventions across health care environments involving direct patient care, (2) leveraging health care technology, (3) optimizing multispecialty/multiprofession collaborations and interventions, (4) engaging local communities, and (5) improving the community environment through health-related government policies, all with a focus on making ideal cardiovascular health equitable for all individuals.
Keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; Life’s Essential 8; cardiovascular health; health care inequities; preventive cardiology; social determinants of health.