A joint statement released by the ACC, European Society of Cardiology (ESC), American Heart Association (AHA) and World Heart Federation (WHF) calls for urgent action to address environmental stressors as major, yet preventable, causes of cardiovascular disease.

The statement focuses on key environmental stressors, including noise/light pollution, climate change, chemical pollution, soil pollution, and air and water pollution, and outlines six overarching priority areas where a unified approach to prevention and policy can drive change.

According to the societies, "the interplay among these stressors amplifies overall cardiovascular risk and underscores the need for integrated exposome-based prevention strategies" focused on:

1. Global advocacy and policy alignment that prioritizes environmental effects on cardiovascular health
2. Investment in research on the impacts of environmental risk factors to inform targeted action
3. Education and increased awareness among health care professionals and the public on environmental risk factors.
4. Urban planning and policies promoting clean transport, green space and noise control.
5. Sustainable health care to reduce emissions and pollution within medical systems.
6. Climate-resilient health systems to protect vulnerable populations.

The authors explain that immediate, coordinated and courageous actions are needed by policymakers, regulatory agencies, community groups, health care organizations and industry partners to reduce personal and societal environmental risk factor exposure, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, or in places "where the probability of sudden catastrophic and cascading events is much more likely."

Specifically, the statement calls on policymakers to address "the root causes of environmental stressors" and adopt stricter air quality and noise standards, phase out fossil fuels and regulate toxic chemicals. It also highlights several health system adaptation and resilience measures, including implementation of public awareness campaigns, health care workforce training and retention strategies, data sharing and interoperability, dedicated funding for health system adaptation and crisis response, investment in telemedicine and integrated care models, and more.

"Research has shown the negative health impacts of pollution, noise, rising temperatures and other environmental stressors," says ACC President Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC. "The time for action on addressing the impact of the environment on cardiovascular health is now and essential to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease around the world."