Elevated Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Chronic Disease Mortality in the Caribbean: A Cross-Sectional Study

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately impacts the Caribbean, accounting for significant premature mortality and morbidity, especially from stroke and hypertensive heart disease. Despite global advancements in CVD prevention and management, the Caribbean region has experienced stagnating or worsening outcomes, particularly among women. Previous studies have largely aggregated Caribbean data with Latin America, obscuring important regional and sex-specific differences, thereby limiting targeted interventions. In this study, we analyzed sex-specific CVD mortality, risk exposures, and systemic healthcare indicators across 15 Caribbean nations, comparing these to North America (United States and Canada). Data from the 2019 PAHO Enlace Portal revealed significantly higher CVD mortality in the Non-Latin Caribbean compared to North America (196.7 vs. 122.6 deaths per 100,000). Hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke mortality were notably elevated (p < .001), alongside hypertensive heart disease deaths, especially in women (24.8 vs. 5.4 per 100,000; p < .01). Caribbean populations exhibited lower alcohol consumption but paradoxically higher alcohol-related deaths. Additionally, Caribbean men showed significantly higher undiagnosed hypertension (47.6% vs. 20.8%; p < .001), and both sexes had significantly elevated kidney disease mortality. Healthcare infrastructure indicators highlighted critical regional deficiencies, including inadequate NCD guidelines and preventive healthcare measures. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive policy reforms that prioritize equitable healthcare access, culturally and biologically informed guidelines, and integrated chronic disease management approaches.