Becker’s has compiled some of the most pertinent study results for cardiology leaders to know in 2026.
Here are the highlights, as of Feb. 4:
Note: This is a running list that is updated periodically throughout the year.
1. A study led by Jacksonville, Fla.-based Mayo Clinic found patients in the highest Body Roundness Index quintile had a 54% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality compared to those in the study’s reference. The risk remained high even among those with normal BMI, and had the strongest effects among middle-aged adults and those with higher educational attainment.
2. A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study found 79.1% of adults with hypertension didn’t have their blood pressure within the recommended goals per guidelines. Fully 61.3% of uncontrolled hypertension went untreated, although two-thirds of those cases were within 10 mmHg of the goal. Most individuals with uncontrolled hypertension reported having health insurance and routine healthcare, and rates were higher among those taking antihypertensives. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2021-2023 data was used for this study.
3. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans aren’t sure if they’re at increased risk for heart disease, despite 69% having at least one risk factor, Cleveland Clinic found. Seventy-two percent of Americans reported feeling confident in their ability to maintain heart health as they age, but 49% didn’t know that diabetes increases heart disease risk; 44% were unaware that physical inactivity is a major contributor; and 71% were unaware of women’s heart disease risk after menopause.
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