WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: The influence of population aging on the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is acknowledged, yet the magnitude of this impact remains unclear.

WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: This research quantified the influence of population aging on CVD DALYs from 1990 to 2021 through decomposition analysis. The findings revealed that the proportion of DALYs attributable to aging varied widely, ranging from ‒77.0% to 148.9% across 204 countries. There was significant variation in the attributed DALY proportions among different countries or territories and types of CVD. Ischemic heart disease and stroke emerged as the leading contributors to DALYs influenced by aging.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?: Globally, the association of population aging with increased CVD DALYs underscores the critical need for enhancing health systems to cater to the needs of older adults. Mitigating the burden of CVD DALYs linked to demographic aging can be achieved by investing in resources and adjusting fertility policies.