Cardiovascular disease

What it means

The most common type in the US is coronary artery disease, in which plaque narrows the arteries that feed the heart muscle. Reduced blood flow can cause chest pain or a heart attack. The CDC reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, accounting for about 1 in 5 deaths.

Key risk factors include high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, inactivity and family history.

Weight loss can improve several of these risk factors. Separately, the Wegovy label includes an approved use to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, in adults with established heart disease and either obesity or overweight. That approval was based on a large outcomes trial.

Heart disease can be silent until a major event, so regular checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar matter even when you feel well.

Why it matters

Heart disease is a weight-related condition that can affect both GLP-1 eligibility and which medicine a plan covers.