# AHA statement: fewer than 5% of US veterans may reach optimal heart health by Life's Essential 8

- Published: 2026-11-12 03:31 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Medicine
- Tags: veterans heart health, Life's Essential 8, cardiovascular health veterans, Circulation journal, Veterans Affairs programs, heart disease risk factors, cardiovascular prevention
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-43f596793c5ff975d01f239f_aha_statement_fewer/

**The American Heart Association published a scientific statement in Circulation on veterans' cardiovascular health. Around 20% of US adults overall may reach the optimal level, the Association says.**

![AHA statement: fewer than 5% of US veterans may reach optimal heart health by Life's Essential 8](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/ace1225be48bfd37.jpg)
*Kalumet, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

Fewer than 5% of U.S. military veterans may achieve optimal cardiovascular health by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 metrics. This follows from a scientific statement published on November 11, 2026 in the journal Circulation, reported by newsroom.heart.org [1]. According to the Association, around 20% of the general U.S. adult population may reach that level [1].

The statement, "Cardiovascular Health Promotion for U.S. Veterans: Current State, Gaps, and Strategies," is devoted specifically to veterans. It applies the Life's Essential 8 framework and additionally considers mental health and substance use. Its aim is to identify strategies that clinicians, researchers and policymakers can use to improve health outcomes in this population [1]. Life's Essential 8 includes healthy eating, physical activity, avoiding tobacco use, healthy sleep, healthy weight, and healthy levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure [1].

## Risk factors in the veteran population

Military veterans represent more than 5% of U.S. adults and are increasingly diverse in race, ethnicity, age, gender and military experience [1]. According to the statement, veterans experience a high burden of heart disease and stroke risk factors and related conditions. These include obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal lipid levels, sleep disorders, mental health conditions and substance use [1].

Neal Yuan, M.D., chair of the writing group and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, said veterans have unique health risks shaped by military service, chronic conditions, mental health, service-related exposures and barriers to care [1].

## Veterans Affairs programs as models

About 9 million veterans, nearly half of the U.S. veteran population, are enrolled for care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the nation's largest integrated healthcare system [1]. The statement notes that VA programs addressing coordinated primary care, nutrition, physical activity, weight management, mental health, sleep, substance use and telehealth may offer models for other health systems [1].

The document outlines practical opportunities to improve lifestyle behaviors, cardiometabolic health, mental health, substance use and sleep disorders among veterans. Yuan said that improving veterans' cardiovascular health requires a comprehensive, whole-person approach that goes beyond traditional heart disease prevention [1].

The statement was prepared by a volunteer writing group on behalf of several American Heart Association councils. Scientific statements describe what is currently known and which areas need additional research; they do not make treatment recommendations [1].

## Sources

1. [newsroom.heart.org](https://newsroom.heart.org/news/fewer-than-5-of-us-military-veterans-may-achieve-optimal-heart-health)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-43f596793c5ff975d01f239f_aha_statement_fewer/