Epidemiology of cardiometabolic health in Latin America and strategies to address disparities

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), sociodemographic context, socioeconomic disparities and the high level of urbanization provide a unique entry point to reflect on the burden of cardiometabolic disease in the region. Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in LAC, precipitated by population growth and ageing together with a rapid increase in the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors, predominantly obesity and diabetes mellitus, over the past four decades. Strategies to address this growing cardiometabolic burden include both population-wide and individual-based initiatives tailored to the specific challenges faced by different LAC countries, which are heterogeneous. The implementation of public policies to reduce smoking and health system approaches to control hypertension are examples of scalable strategies. The challenges faced by LAC are also opportunities to foster innovative approaches to combat the high burden of cardiometabolic diseases such as implementing digital health interventions and team-based initiatives. This Review provides a summary of trends in the epidemiology of cardiometabolic diseases and their risk factors in LAC as well as context-specific disease determinants and potential solutions to improve cardiometabolic health in the region. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), precipitated by the unique milieu of population growth, rapid urbanization, socioeconomic disparities and prevalent cardiometabolic risk factors. Brant and colleagues summarize trends in cardiometabolic health in LAC and discuss tailored, innovative solutions to address the growing burden of disease in the region. Adult populations of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) often experience biological and societal adversity from early life, increasing the subsequent risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases and their complications.Increased urbanization and rapid population ageing in LAC, together with reduced socioeconomic conditions and inequity, result in a milieu that favours poor cardiometabolic health.Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in LAC, and the increasing prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors reveals the importance of public health policies to counteract these trajectories.Strategies to combat the cardiometabolic disease epidemic in LAC must be guided by high-quality local data and focus on evidence-based, population-wide and individual-based strategies, tailored to the local context.Innovative solutions that have been shown to be effective, such as digital health interventions and team-based strategies, should be implemented across LAC, fostered by local, regional and global investments.