What the States with the Lowest Heart Disease Death Rate Record Shows

This ranking covers 51 states sorted by rate per 100k, drawn from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality files. The top of the list, led by Minnesota, Colorado, Hawaii - reaches 119.1, while the bottom - Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas - sits at 237.2, a -118.1-point spread and roughly a 0.5x gap between extremes. Across all 51 ranked states the average lands at 166.0 with a median of 158.0, so the distribution is relatively symmetric, with most states clustering near the central value.

States with the lowest heart disease death rates benefit from a combination of healthier lifestyles, better healthcare infrastructure, and demographic factors. Many top-performing states have lower obesity rates, higher physical activity levels, and better access to preventive cardiology care. States in the Mountain West and Northeast frequently appear near the top due to lower smoking rates and more active lifestyles.

For readers, the practical read of this ranking is comparative: a state's position reflects its age-adjusted rate relative to peers, not the absolute risk any individual faces. Age-adjustment to the year 2000 US standard population removes demographic-age confounding, so the gap between Minnesota at 119.1 and Oklahoma at 237.2 reflects genuine differences in exposure, prevention, and healthcare delivery rather than an artifact of older populations. These figures describe population-level mortality statistics and are not a substitute for medical advice; individual risk depends on personal health history, behaviors, and access to care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about diagnosis, treatment, or prevention decisions. Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.