AHA gives Congress thumbs up for boosting cardiovascular research funding

The American Heart Association (AHA) issued a statement March 29 applauding Congress for including funding increases for federal programs aimed at combating cardiovascular disease in its final omnibus spending bill.

The $3 billion increase approved for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be divided among its 27 institutes—two of which are responsible for heart disease and stroke research. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute will receive $848 million, up $3.3 million from last year, while the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke will receive $832 million—a $2.1 million increase.

“Congress delivered a great gift to Americans suffering from heart disease and stroke with passage of this legislation,” AHA CEO Nancy Brown said in the statement. “The substantial budget increases provided for medical research and prevention are just what we need to take on the heavy burden cardiovascular disease will continue to place on our nation.”

In its press release, the AHA pointed out a few heart and stroke-related programs through the CDC will have at least as much funding as they did in fiscal year 2017. The Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program will receive $140 million (a 7.7 percent increase), while the Million Hearts initiative and the Wisewoman program will get the same amounts as last year.

“Cardiovascular disease, if left unchecked, is projected to affect 45 percent of Americans by 2035,” Brown said. “Research is our best hope to wipe out the serious health and economic crisis we will be facing if this prediction becomes a reality.”