SUBOPTIMAL diet remained a major driver of global ischaemic heart disease (IHD), accounting for millions of deaths worldwide despite notable improvements over the past three decades.
New findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2023 analysis showed that dietary risks were responsible for an estimated 4.06 million IHD deaths and 96.84 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2023.
While the global age-standardised death rate attributable to poor diet fell by 43.92% between 1990–2023, the absolute burden remained substantial, particularly in lower-resource settings.
IHD, a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, continues to be a leading cause of mortality globally. Diet is considered its most significant modifiable risk factor, making these findings particularly relevant for prevention strategies.
Ischaemic Heart Disease Burden Linked to Diet Quality
The study analysed data across 204 countries, providing one of the most comprehensive assessments of diet-related IHD to date.
Researchers identified several key dietary contributors to disease burden. Low intake of nuts and seeds emerged as the leading risk factor, followed by insufficient consumption of whole grains and fruits, alongside high sodium intake.
These dietary patterns were consistently associated with increased mortality rates. For example, low consumption of nuts and seeds contributed to 9.87 deaths per 100,000 population, while low whole grains and fruits contributed 9.22 and 7.25 deaths per 100,000, respectively. High sodium intake also played a significant role.
Importantly, the burden was disproportionately higher in low- and middle-sociodemographic index countries, highlighting persistent global health inequalities. Limited access to nutrient-rich foods and higher reliance on processed diets likely contributed to these regional disparities.
Implications for Prevention and Policy
Despite encouraging declines in age-standardised death rates, the findings underscored that population growth and ageing have sustained the overall burden of diet-related IHD. The study’s large-scale modelling approach enabled researchers to isolate the proportion of disease directly attributable to modifiable dietary factors, reinforcing the potential impact of targeted interventions.
Overall, the results emphasised the urgent need for global nutrition policies aimed at improving diet quality. Increasing access to whole grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds, alongside reducing sodium intake, could significantly reduce the burden of IHD worldwide.
As healthcare systems shift towards prevention, these findings provided a clear roadmap for reducing cardiovascular mortality through scalable, diet-focused interventions.
Reference
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 IHD & Dietary Risk Factors Collaborators. Global, regional and national burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to suboptimal diet, 1990–2023: a Global Burden of Disease study. Nat Med. 2026;DOI:10.1038/s41591-026-04250-8.
Featured image: airborne77 on Adobe Stock
