Background:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality, with economic implications for the health system.

Objective:

To characterize the burden of CVD in Mexico from 1990 to 2021 based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, to address the burden of health and disease, its implications for public health and for the development of the health care system.

Material and methods:

CVD mortality in Mexico is described, and the extent to which population growth and aging explain the observed trends, sex differences, and geographic patterns is examined.

Results:

CVD is the leading cause of mortality, mainly due to hypertensive heart disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke. A change of trend was observed in men and women, with higher mortality in people older than 80 years and in the northern states of the country.

Conclusions:

Mexico must invest in public health programs to address modifiable risks, promote healthy aging, and reduce premature death due to CVD.